PRETORIA - The assassination of Gauteng Health Department corruption whistle-blower Babita Deokaran came under the spotlight at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry on Wednesday.
This time in relation to whether KwaZulu-Natal Hawks head Lesetja Senona had any knowledge of controversial businessman and attempted murder accused Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala’s alleged involvement in her murder.
READ | Senona ordered to disclose name in Mkhwanazi's WhatsApp text despite safety
Testifying before the commission, Senona firmly denied having any awareness of allegations linking Matlala who he described as a younger brother to Deokaran’s murder.
“I was not aware of those accusations,” Senona told the commission.
Deokaran was gunned down in 2021 after exposing alleged tender corruption at Tembisa Hospital.
She was shot multiple times outside her home after dropping her daughter at school.
At the time, Deokaran was serving as acting Chief Financial Officer in the Gauteng Health Department.
READ | Exclusive | Babita Deokaran's brother believes mastermind in sight
An interim report on the corruption and maladministration at the hospital by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) found that three corruption syndicates looted R2-billion from Tembisa Hospital.
Three of the companies awarded contracts are linked to tenderpreneur and alleged criminal kingpin Vusimuzi Matlala.
But dispite these widespread reports from varied media houses, Senona has maintained that he had no knowledge.
READ | SIU finds R2bn was looted from Tembisa Hospital
He told the commission that the only aspect of the case that ever caught his attention was the name “Babita Deokaran” itself.
He added that he could not clearly recall where or how he became aware of the murder.
This response prompted commissioner Sesi Baloyi to accuse Senona of being selective in what he wants to remember.
“There was always a complete story explaining what it's alleged [Babita Deokaran] had blew the whistle on and who was implicated in that."
"And it's difficult to accept that you heard about this killing but you didn't hear what it is that she's supposed to have blown the whistle on and who are the people that are implicated,” Baloyi told Senona.
Senona rejected the accusation, insisting he was not ignoring information in this case.