Tonight, we shine a light on a story that shook South Africa to its core — the assassination of Gauteng health official Babita Deokaran in 2021. She was a key whistleblower who exposed corruption worth hundreds of millions in the health department — and paid the ultimate price. Now, award-winning
journalist Jeff Wicks has turned years of investigation into a book, The Shadow State: Why Babita Deokaran Had to Die. It is not only the story of Babita, but also an unflinching look at the dangers of whistleblowing in South Africa, where exposing corruption can mean risking your life. We’ll talk to Jeff
about the book, the networks it reveals, and why at least three auditors have already been killed for
daring to hold the powerful accountable.