GAUTENG Department of Health official Babita Deokaran did not die in vain.
This is the commitment made by Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi while addressing the media in Midrand, north of Joburg on Tuesday, 13 December.
He said Deokaran compiled a forensic report flagging corruption at Tembisa Hospital before she was killed.
Lesufi said the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) unearthed the report.
“When this happened, there were denials that Deokaran had compiled a forensic report with a list of companies that she wanted investigated, while senior finance officials denied the existence of that report,” said Lesufi.
He said through the SIU’s investigation, the report was found and it was confirmed that she named several companies.
“We must take this opportunity to show we are doing this to honour Deokaran. When she died, she did not die in vain. She remains a symbol of whistle blowing and a symbol of fighting corruption,” he said.
Lesufi said they will make sure that those involved will suffer the consequences of their actions.
He said according to the SIU findings, the former hospital CEO, Dr Ashley Mthunzi, was involved in mismanagement and fraudulent purchases. Lesufi said that among the companies that Deokaran flagged, close to 227 companies belonged to five people.
He said the biggest beneficiary of the graft was Stefan Govindaraju, who scored R436 925, 532 from irregular tenders, while Hangwani Maumela, who is a nephew by marriage to President Cyril Ramaphosa, and Aluwani Maumela, jointly got contracts valued at R335 325 566.
“The Gauteng government has put a system in place to protect whistle blowers and assist in fighting corruption,” he claimed.
