The life and legacy of slain whistleblower Babita Deokaran will be commemorated with the unveiling of a memorial monument at the Shri Mariammen Temple on Sunday, 9 August, coinciding with National Women’s Day. The event, titled “Bringing Babita Back Home to Mt Edgecombe”, is being organised by the Deokaran family, the Mt Edgecombe Arts and Cultural Council and the Shri Mariammen Temple Society, and will begin at 9am.
Organisers say the monument will serve as a lasting tribute to Deokaran, who was widely recognised for her courage in exposing fraud and corruption within the Gauteng Department of Health, particularly at Thembisa Hospital. She was murdered in 2021 after playing a key role in uncovering financial irregularities.
In preparation for the ceremony, the organising committee has launched several fundraising initiatives to help cover the costs of hosting what is expected to be a large public event. These include the sale of Babita Deokaran memorial ribbons for R20 each, symbolising the ongoing call for justice, as well as an online crowdfunding campaign through the Back a Buddy platform, where members of the public can donate any amount they can afford through a simple online process.
The funds raised will go towards hosting the ceremony across the temple courtyard and the neighbouring Sipho Sethu School grounds, where organisers expect thousands of people to gather to pay tribute to Deokaran’s life and legacy.
The organising committee has also been visiting schools, senior citizens’ clubs and civil society organisations to raise awareness and extend invitations to the wider community. Breakfast and lunch will be provided to attendees, and members of the public are encouraged to attend.
For more information, contact Jasmen Chundarduth on 081 452 2880, Sean Naidoo on 060 614 4808, Alan Soobramoney on 082 778 1440 or Ashnee Maharaj on 074 229 8357. Visit the link to donate towards the event: https://www.backabuddy.co.za/campaign/honouring-a-hero-babita-deokaran.
