Babita Deokaran suspects killer

[FILE] Babita Deokaran health official.
Image via: Facebook

Babita Deokaran: EIGHT things to know about the slain health official

53-year-old Babita Deokaran, who was employed by the Gauteng Department of Health, was shot and killed outside her home on Monday morning.

Babita Deokaran suspects killer

[FILE] Babita Deokaran health official.
Image via: Facebook

On Monday 23 August, news broke that a Gauteng Health Department official – a senior official – was gunned down outside her home in Mondeor, Johannesburg just after 8:00 in the morning. At the time, police refused to disclose the woman’s identity but now the department itself has released a statement and revealed the senior official’s identity. 

Babita Deokaran, 53, was shot multiple times in her upper body by an assailant that is still at large. The official, who had just dropped her child at school before the shooting, later died in hospital in the afternoon. Gauteng MEC for Health Dr Nomathemba Mokgethi has since expressed shock at the official’s tragic death. 

WHAT DID BABITA DEOKARAN DO AT THE GAUTENG DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH? 

First off, Deokaran was a senior finance official in the Department of Health. According to Mokgethi, she was an “invaluable member of the Gauteng health team”. 

Second, Babita Deokaran rose up the ranks in the public service, in the last three decades, after she joined as an Accounting Clerk. Babita Deokaran then went on to become Chief Director: Financial Accounting at the GDOH and at times acted as the Chief Financial Officer. 

“The Gauteng Department of Health (DOH) is at a loss for words at this brutal and tragic passing,” said Mokgethi. 

While we don’t know how many children she had, we do know she was a mother and according to her social media pages, family was very important to her. She said; “I’m a mum, daughter, sister, aunt, cousin, you name it.”

According to Facebook, she is from Durban but moved to Johannesburg. She attended Daleview Secondary School and studied at the University of South Africa (Unisa). 

Babita Deokaran also strictly adhered to COVID-19 protocols and encouraged the 18-35 cohort to get their vaccines. 

“​​All over 18s, go meet your jab,” she said last week Friday. 

MANHUNT LAUNCHED FOR MURDERED HEALTH OFFICIAL  

Mokgethi called on law enforcement agencies to leave no stone unturned to get to the bottom of the shooting. 

“The Department sends a message of condolences to the Deokaran family and colleagues that worked with Babita for their loss,” added Mokgethi. 

Police told The South African that a case of murder has been opened but the motive for the incident is still unknown and no arrests have been made as yet.  

Anyone with further information, that may help police, is urged to call their nearest police station or 0860-0101-11.