Johannesburg, South Africa – A new book, "The Shadow State: Why Babita Deokaran Had to Die," has exposed the shocking truth behind the murder of Babita Deokaran, a top health official who dared to stand against widespread corruption. The book, written by investigative journalist Jeff Wicks, details Deokaran's brave fight, the trail of dirty money, the hitmen, and gives chilling clues about who truly wanted her silenced.
Babita Deokaran's Tragic Murder
On August 23, 2021, Babita Deokaran, the chief financial officer for the Gauteng Health Department, was shot 12 times outside her Johannesburg home. Just weeks before, she had sent a message warning that her life could be in danger.
- Deokaran was leaving her home shortly before 7 AM to take her teenage daughter to school.
- After dropping her daughter off and buying groceries, she returned home.
- As her car pulled into the driveway, a white BMW drove up and unleashed a hail of gunfire.
- She died several hours later in the hospital, surrounded by family.
It was clear this was no random act of violence. Her cell phone and handbag were left untouched, showing that the killers had a specific motive – to silence her.
The Dedicated Civil Servant Who Stood Her Ground
Babita Deokaran was known as a dedicated civil servant and an upright person throughout her career. She has become an icon as a whistleblower, but this title came to her only after her death. Beyond her work, she was a loving mother to a teenage daughter, a protective sister, and an inspiration to her family who had worked hard to escape poverty. She never burdened her family with her struggles, even going to work dressed normally when she was actually suspended without pay.
Uncovering Massive Corruption at Tembisa Hospital
The heart of Deokaran's investigation was at Tembisa Hospital, where she found shocking financial misconduct.
- Just three weeks before her murder, Deokaran filed a report stating that Tembisa Hospital was spending more money than all other facilities in the network combined.
- This spending amounted to R850 million in just four months and showed significant red flags for procurement fraud.
- She recommended an urgent forensic investigation and, crucially, halted R100 million in outgoing payments that were about to leave the Treasury. This act of stopping the money made her an enemy of powerful criminal groups.
The book reveals that these syndicates have pulled a staggering R2.3 billion out of the public health network. Jeff Wicks highlighted the extreme nature of this crime, stating that "it takes a special kind of psychopath to steal from a public hospital".
A Flawed Investigation and Lack of Justice
Despite the high-profile nature of the case, the path to justice has been deeply troubled.
- Police Investigation (Hawks): The investigation by the Hawks, a specialized police unit, was marred by "catastrophic missteps". Shockingly, the police made no effort to digitally examine Babita Deokaran's laptop or cell phone for clues, despite seizing them. Wicks' team at News24 examined these devices and, within minutes, found the Tembisa report that revealed a clear motive for her murder. The Hawks only asked for the devices back after media reports exposed their failure.
- Convictions: Six men were convicted and sentenced for her murder, but this happened through a plea and sentencing agreement, not a full trial. Many are eligible for parole next year, which is seen as an "insult" to the Deokaran family. Crucially, the investigation failed to identify or bring to justice those who ordered the killing, leaving layers of intermediaries and masterminds untouched. The case is now essentially a "cold case".
- Departmental Accountability: Even within the Gauteng Department of Health, accountability has been minimal. The former CFO, Lorato Majoro, faced misconduct charges related to 13 questionable purchase orders but was never charged for ignoring Deokaran's report or for releasing frozen funds after the murder. Majoro was placed on special leave and allowed to resign two years later without any punishment. Investigations by the SIU (Special Investigating Unit) have identified 111 staff members in the department who took kickbacks, pointing to a deeply "poisoned" system.
The "Shadow State": Criminals Running the Show
The book introduces the concept of the "Shadow State," describing a parallel world where criminal enterprises extract massive amounts of public money.
- This is not "white collar crime" in the traditional sense; it involves "sophisticated, smart, well-resourced criminal enterprises".
- These groups cripple the country by diverting funds meant for hospitals to other places, with the help of corrupt health staff who are part of the "ecosystem".
- The money is then laundered through various channels, involving estate agents, luxury car dealers, lawyers, and accountants.
- When someone like Babita Deokaran threatens their money streams, they resort to the underworld and "enforcers" to deal with the problem.
- The state's procurement budget of R1 trillion annually makes it an irresistible target for these groups.
- The current paper-based procurement system in 2025 makes it easier to commit fraud through fake documents, allowing for massive extraction.
Key Figures Benefiting from Corruption:
The investigation uncovered several influential figures benefiting from these schemes:
- Kat Matlala: Identified in Deokaran's report, he earned R5 million from Tembisa Hospital in weeks. Despite an intimidating persona and a history of arrests for attempted murder and cash-in-transit heists, he was awarded a police tender while under investigation for fraud.
- Rudolph Mazibuko and family: Through 17 companies, this family made at least R250 million from Tembisa Hospital. They were behind schemes like selling a R150 plastic bucket for R10,000.
- Celos Sakoko: A senior ANC figure, his events company was making money from health tenders. Deokaran had googled his company, and her boss reportedly told her to keep quiet about dealing with politicians. He has become very wealthy and continues to find success in politics and state contracts.
- Morgan Mamela: Described by sources as the "Don of Tembisa," he was reportedly at the center of all operations, with nothing moving without him. He is identified as a "distant relative" of President Cyril Ramaphosa (though the President denies a close relationship) and a friend of Ramaphosa's political advisor. He is considered one of the single largest beneficiaries, having extracted at least R430 million. This money funded mansions and luxury apartments, some even featured on TV shows.
- Stefan Goend Raju: Controlled 60 companies using proxy directors – people with regular jobs living in humble homes, who were fronts for millions in transactions. His syndicate extracted at least half a billion rand from Tembisa.
The Road Ahead
The revelations in "The Shadow State" paint a grim picture of corruption's grip on South Africa. The lack of accountability and the continued presence of these criminal networks send a chilling message to other potential whistleblowers.
Jeff Wicks, who has been investigating this story for four years, admits to being scared but believes the story is too important not to tell. He hopes his work will lead to greater accountability and prevent others from suffering Babita Deokaran's tragic fate.