Renaming of the Fallen Heroes of Integrity Award in Honour of Babita Deokaran

MEDIA STATEMENT

Johannesburg, Wednesday, 8 October 2025 — The organisers of the Whistleblowers Awards are proud to announce that the Fallen Heroes of Integrity Award will henceforth be known as the Babita Deokaran Fallen Heroes of Integrity Award, in honour of the late Babita Deokaran — a devoted public servant, single mother, and chief accountant at the Gauteng Department of Health, who courageously exposed corruption within the province’s public health system.

This announcement follows a swell of nominations received by the organisers ahead of the closing date on 7 October 2025, reflecting a growing public commitment to celebrating integrity and ethical courage in South Africa.

Rakesh Deokaran, brother of the late Babita Deokaran, welcomed the renaming:

“This is a deeply moving tribute to my sister’s bravery and sacrifice. Babita’s legacy must remind us that integrity in public service is not optional — it’s a moral duty. Our family remains hopeful that justice will ultimately prevail and that those who orchestrated her assassination will be held accountable. No family should ever have to endure what ours has been through for doing what is right.”

Tebogo Khaas, chairperson of Public Interest SA and convenor of the Whistleblowers Awards, said:

“Renaming this award in Babita’s honour is both a solemn and symbolic act. It affirms our collective resolve to ensure that the memory of her integrity and courage continues to inspire others to speak truth to power. South Africans must never rest until the masterminds behind Babita’s assassination are brought to justice. Her name now stands as an enduring reminder that integrity must triumph over fear.”

The Babita Deokaran Fallen Heroes of Integrity Award will be conferred at the upcoming Whistleblowers Awards & Summit, convened annually by Public Interest SA, to recognise extraordinary acts of moral courage and integrity in the face of adversity.

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Event Details:

📅 Date: Monday, 27 October 2025

📍 Venue: The Venue, Melrose Arch, Johannesburg