Today's Labour News

TimesLIVE reports that Gauteng health department staff who are witnesses in a corruption investigation being conducted by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) fear for their safety after the brazen murder of their corruption-buster colleague.

Babita Deokaran died in a hail of bullets last week. While six suspects appeared in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on Monday in connection with her murder, some staff are on tenterhooks. A finance department employee who contributed to the SIU investigation said Deokaran had stopped many dubious transactions, but she was now afraid: “I’m asking myself if I will be next. The killing of Babita has left many of us with so much fear because people would rather see others dead than go to jail.” An employee in the supply chain department was also concerned about his safety and was changing routines. “I’ve moved from my place temporarily while I try to figure out what to do or hear if the SIU will offer us protection because it is clear this investigation has angered a lot of people,” he said. Another supply chain staffer, who is also a witness in the SIU investigation, said Deokaran's killing had left her numb. “This is really a tough situation and a part of me regrets being a witness. I’m at a point where I’m thinking of turning a blind eye to any future irregularities I may pick up,” she said. The employees said most staff in both units were witnesses in the SIU investigation and only a handful of their colleagues were not. They acknowledged it might be difficult for the SIU to give protection to all witnesses, but wished some form of protection could be given.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Belinda Pheto at TimesLIVE
• Read too, Dying to tell the truth: SA government fails whistle-blowers, at Independent Media

Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page