Sentencing of six men involved in Babita’s murder widely commended

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The sentencing of six men accused of killing Gauteng department of health acting chief financial officer, Babita Deokaran, by the Gauteng high court, Johannesburg on Tuesday has been widely commended.

Deokaran was killed outside her home in Johannesburg in 2021, weeks after flagging irregularities relating to suppliers and service providers that were conducting business with Tembisa Hospital, resulting in payments of approximately R850 million.

The accused tendered a plea of guilty and entered into a plea and sentence agreement with the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).

Phakamani Hadebe (31) was sentenced to 22 years imprisonment, Nhlangano Ndlovu (29) to 6 years, Sanele Mbhele (29) to 22 years, Siphakanyiswa Dladla (27) to 15 years (8 years for murder and 7 years for possession of a prohibited firearm and unlawful possession of ammunition), Zitha Radebe (32) to 15 years and Siphiwe Mazibuko (30) to 15 years imprisonment.

Accused four, Siphakanyiswa Dladla, further pleaded guilty to possession of prohibited firearms and unlawful possession of ammunition.

All accused were convicted of murder under the principle of ‘dolus eventualis’ and conceded that they foresaw the possibility that their actions could lead to the death of Deokoran.

In their plea explanation, the NPA spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane says they detailed how they scouted and traced the movements of the deceased, on two separate occasions, before she was killed. 

“Images of her place of residence as well as those of her vehicle were sent to a person known as Khanyisani Mpungose, who was introduced to them by Hadebe.

“Mpungose was fingered as the person that approached Hadebe, seeking to deal with Deokoran as she was “problematic”.

“They stated that on the day of the incident, August 23, 2021, Mpungose arrived with an unknown male who joined them to execute the plan of killing Deokoran. They added that they were driving in two separate vehicles that followed Deokoran to Columbine Square and thereafter to her home.

“Along the way, she stopped to pick up her domestic helper and as she brought her car to a halt, one of their vehicles stopped alongside hers and Mpungose and the unknown male, fired several shots towards Deokoran’s car. Thereafter, both vehicles fled the scene,” said Mjonondwane.

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Senior state advocate Steven Rubin put before the court that murder is a serious offence which can never be downplayed.

He further declared that the deceased, having chosen to highlight irregularities in the spending of the department of health, has been hailed as a hero of the nation.

Mjonondwane added that; “The court considered that there were substantial and compelling circumstances to deviate from the minimum prescribed sentence of life imprisonment, citing that, the accused pleaded guilty, and they spent two years in prison awaiting the finalisation of the trial against them.

“Further, they provided information about other people that were involved in Deokoran’s killing that was not known to the state.

The court further considered the interest of justice and that of society, as well as the personal circumstances of the accused”.

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has welcomed the sentencing and said she was a noble public servant and worked with law enforcement agencies to stop the abuse of public funds by providing information on ongoing investigations in the health department.

“As a senior official in the finance and supply chain management, she provided the SIU with
information to assist with investigations relating to the procurement of Personal Protective
Equipment (PPE) in the health department, and flagged maladministration, fraud and corruption
related to the supply chain management processes at the Tembisa hospital.

“The SIU investigation produced significant results and consequence management has been implemented. Several senior officials in the health department have faced disciplinary action and
dismissed from employment, PPE contracts have been terminated and monies returned to the state,” said SIU spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago.

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Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance (DA) said it is most concerned that the six men who have admitted guilt in the murder of Deokaran should reveal who gave them the orders to kill her.

“I hope their plea deal includes as much information as possible about those who wanted to stop Babita uncovering massive corruption at the Tembisa Hospital and elsewhere.

“Anything less will be a travesty of justice and a blow to Babita’s family who are commemorating the second anniversary of her murder today,” said DA Gauteng Shadow Health MEC Jack Bloom.