Statement by Sam Shabane, GOOD National Chairperson
27 August 2021
The speedy arrests of seven people allegedly involved in the assassination of whistle-blower Babita Deokaran will be welcomed by all good South Africans. But unless the people who ordered the hit are brought to book Deokaran’s courage in speaking out to stop the rot of corruption will have been in vain.
Deokaran, the acting chief financial officer at the Gauteng health department, was gunned down outside her Johannesburg home on Monday. She was a key witness in the investigation into the looting of Covid-19 funds in that province.
The GOOD Party calls on South Africa’s law enforcement agencies to be held accountable for the security of whistle-blowers. South Africans need to know which agency should have been responsible for Deokaran’s protection and where the system failed her, to prevent similar barbarity in future.
For as long as we are unable to protect people who have the integrity to speak out we will lose the battle against corruption and impunity.
Arresting the perpetrators of crime is a good first step, but it’s not good enough on its own. It’s time for the masterminds of corruption, who manipulate the system from high offices, to pay the highest prices for their crimes.
Ends…