About Babita Deokaran
Babita Deokaran (1968 - 2021)
Brief overview:
Babita (53), the finance chief of the Gauteng Department, and a witnesses for the Special Investigating Unit, was gunned down in her vehicle outside her home in Winchester Hills, Johannesburg on 23rd August 2021. She was killed shortly after dropping her teenage daughter at school.
Gunmen driving a white BMW were waiting for her outside her home. "Her bullet-riddled vehicle bears all the hallmarks of a planned hit."
CCTV cameras in the street where Babita was murdered had been switched off.
Nothing was stolen from her vehicle.
"Babita was assisting with investigations into a personal protective equipment (PPE) tender probe into the R332-million PPE deal that has rocked the Gauteng health department."
"A memorial vigil was held on Thursday 26th August on Mary Fitzgerald Square in Johannesburg. The candlelight vigil was attended by representatives from civil society and activists from the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation, Defend Our Democracy and Outa. Speakers slammed Premier David Makhura, who was present, for failing to run a clean ship, allowing rot to take hold in the province, including in the Department of Health; his failure to be transparent and accountable."
Seven people have been arrested. National police spokesperson Colonel Brenda Muridili said on Friday that seven people aged between 24 and 31 had been arrested in connection with Babita Deokaran’s murder. Two guns and two cars were also found and confiscated, she said.
Brief Biography:
- Other Victims/Family
- Funeral/Memorial
- The Street/Suburb
- The Region (Land disputes, other incidents etc.)
Attack Details:
- Date and time of attack
- Weapons
- Items Stolen
- Investigative officer/SAPS Case No:
- Torture, Gratuitous violence
- Indications of Hate Crime? Threats etc.
Perpetrator details:
- Number and Descriptions
- Arrests
- Name/s and age/s of Perpetrator/s
- Country of origin of Perpetrator/s
- Trial/Conviction
- 23/08/2023: Six accused, Phakamani Vincent Hadebe, Mhlangano Phinda Ndlovu, Sanele Mbhele, Siphakanyiswa Dladla, Zitha Radebe and Siphiwe Thabane Mazibuko were all found guilty and sentenced by the South Gauteng High court
- In the ensuing court process, the accused pleaded guilty to the murder this afternoon and were sentenced as follows: Phakamani Vincent Hadebe was sentenced for murder to twenty-two (22) years imprisonment; Mhlangano Phinda Ndlovu was sentenced for murder to six (6) years imprisonment; Sanele Mbhele was sentenced for murder to twenty-two (22) years imprisonment; Siphakanyiswa Dladla was sentenced for murder to eight (8) years imprisonment, for possession of a firearm and for possession of ammunition taken together for purpose of sentence, seven (7) years imprisonment effective sentence fifteen (15) years imprisonment; Zitha Radebe was sentenced for murder to fifteen (15) years imprisonment; Siphiwe Thabane Mazibuko was sentenced for murder to fifteen (15) years imprisonment. *https://archive.is/5u1Nt
- Phakamani Radebe alleged that former health minister Zweli Mkhize paid them R400,000 each for the hit, but later retracted the statement.
- Aftermath - The six men involved implicated three more men. One of the three, Khanyisani Mpungose, was killed in Germiston, four months after Deokaran's assassination.
Additional Biographical Information:
Links to Media articles:
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Babita Deokaran's Timeline
| 1968 |
1968
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| 2021 |
August 23, 2021
Age 53
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Johannesburg South, City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality, GP, South Africa
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