Babita Deokaran, a senior finance official in the Gauteng Department of Health, was assassinated on 23 August 2021after exposing massive corruption at Tembisa Hospital, where over R850 million in suspicious tenders were flagged. She froze R100 million in payments and demanded a forensic audit—actions that made her a target. Deokaran’s murder revealed the depth of South Africa’s procurement corruption, linking public officials to criminal networks and tender cartels. While six hitmen were convicted, the masterminds remain free, exposing the country’s failure to protect whistleblowers and enforce accountability. Her death has become a symbol of state capture, corruption, and impunity in South Africa.