Slain whistleblower to be honoured with monument

A MONUMENT to honour slain whistleblower Babita Deokaran will be unveiled at the Mount Edgecombe Shree Mariammen Temple on August 9.

Seelan Archary, chairperson of the temple’s society, said the idea to pay tribute to Deokaran was born last year.

“Her name had come up during a meeting between the society and the Mount Edgecombe Arts and Cultural Council. We thought, why not honour her taking into account the role she played in exposing corruption in the country, and the qualities she posed. She was not only a heroine, but a woman encompassing qualities such as honesty and integrity. Furthermore, in pursuance of her duty, she was developing a trust relationship between civil service and the citizens of this country.

“We approached her family, and after receiving their blessings, we started the process of deciding how we would honour her. It was decided that a bust of her would be most suitable. The bust will be placed on a plinth, and there will be a plaque inscribed with her name, date of birth and date of death,” he said.

Archary said the month of August held significant meaning.

“We chose to honour her on Women’s Day, but also because August will mark five years since her death. We hope that when people, especially the youth look at the monument, they will be inspired to follow the same path – which is to be honest, truthful and have integrity. They must be motivated to stand-up for what is right, and not look at our vices such as fraud and corruption to try to succeed in life,” he said.

Archary said they also intend to form a committee to carry Babita’s legacy into schools.

“We would like to start in schools in Phoenix and then the surrounding areas. We want to share her story and hopefully it will inspire the children to inculcate values such as honesty and integrity, as well as to be diligent in their work – both present and in future.”

Venashree Naidu, treasurer of the Mount Edgecombe Arts and Cultural Council, said the organisations felt it was important to bring Babita “back home”.

“She was a daughter of Mount Edgecombe, and so we felt it fitting to erect a monument to her here in her hometown. She was a national symbol of what ethical public service should look like. Babita Deokaran represented everything that a good, strong, ethical and honest civil service is about. South Africa needs civil servants to be the backbone of a genuine democracy.

“Her monument must stand as a reminder to all that she is loved for her heroism and that her example still calls on us to stand for what is right,” she said.

Karishma Rambally, Babita’s niece, said the idea for the memorial tribute emerged during a meeting between the Mount Edgecombe Arts and Cultural Council and the Shri Mariammen Temple committee.

“One of the members suggested recognising Babita Deokaran after it became known that she was a product of Mount Edgecombe. Discussions then evolved around the idea of creating a memorial tribute. Thereafter, contact was made with our family, and a meeting took place to obtain our family’s blessings and permission to go ahead with the concept,” she said.

Rambally said the monument would serve as a lasting tribute to Deokaran’s courage and principles.

“The monument is intended to serve as a lasting tribute to my aunt Babita’s integrity and moral courage. It represents the values she stood for and aims to inspire future generations to uphold honesty, integrity and accountability. The concept is centred around remembrance, honour and the impact one honest, ordinary, working-class individual can have on society.

“The fact that the unveiling of her monument will take place on August 9, a day we observe as Women’s Day in South Africa, makes the occasion even more auspicious and meaningful. It will stand not only as a tribute to Babita, but as a tribute to the strength, resilience, and courage of women who choose integrity even when the cost is high,” she said.

Rambally said the initiative deeply moved the family.

“Our family has been deeply touched and humbled by this initiative. While nothing can ease the loss we feel on a daily basis, it brings us comfort in knowing that our loved one’s legacy continues to live on and that her courage and sacrifice are being recognised and remembered in such a meaningful way.”

Rambally added that the ongoing public support had been both emotional and encouraging for the family.

“On a daily basis, we see people engage and reflect on Babita’s life and values. It reinforces that her story continues to inspire many people, not just across the country but also around the world.”

Speaking about the family’s grief nearly five years later, Rambally said: “We continue to miss her every single day, the last four years, now approaching five, continue to be an emotional one for us. Grief is something that evolves over time, and we still have many difficult moments. However, we are a close-knit family and continue to draw strength from one another.”

She also thanked those involved in ensuring Babita’s legacy continues to be remembered.

“We would like to express our sincere gratitude to everyone who continues to honour Babita’s legacy. Initiatives like these not only preserve her memory but also keep alive the important conversations around courage, ethics and standing up for what is right. We thank the Mount Edgecombe Arts and Cultural Council, as well as the Shri Mariammen Temple committee and all involved in bringing this grand honour to my aunt,” said Rambally.

Rakesh Deokaran, Babita’s younger brother, said: “Our sister will be taken home. The area is where our parents lived and the temple is where our family including Babita were devotees. We are thankful to the temple for honouring and recognising her, and for continuing with her legacy.”

The public is invited to attend the unveiling ceremony set to take place at the temple situated in 24 Sugarmill Way, Mount Edgecombe, starting at 9am.

Additional reporting: Nivashni Nair