By Mapaballo Borotho
- The DA claims Babita Deokaran’s former boss Lerato Madyo is living in Limpopo under a new identity.
- Madyo allegedly resigned while facing disciplinary charges linked to fraudulent Tembisa Hospital contracts flagged by Deokaran.
- The SIU later found that about R2 billion was siphoned from the hospital through irregular contracts.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng claims that the former Chief Financial Officer of the Gauteng Department of Health, Lerato Madyo, is allegedly living in Limpopo under an assumed identity.
According to the party, Madyo resigned from the department while facing disciplinary charges related to fraudulent contracts at Tembisa Hospital that were flagged by slain whistleblower Babita Deokaran.
In what the DA describes as a startling revelation, it alleges that Madyo later disappeared to Limpopo and changed her name to Daniella Molapo.
While reports in August 2024 indicated that she had resigned from the department, the DA now claims it has uncovered that she was given a significant parting payout amounting to millions of rand.
DA Gauteng Shadow Health MEC Jack Bloom has accused the department of misleading the public and covering up what he described as a questionable payoff.
Bloom has also called on members of the public to come forward with any information regarding the whereabouts of the person now believed to be using the name Daniella Molapo.
In 2021, Deokaran exposed a multi-million-rand tender scandal involving the Gauteng Department of Health and Tembisa Hospital. Many believe she was targeted after raising concerns about the alleged corruption.
Following her murder, which shocked the nation, President Cyril Ramaphosa authorised the Special Investigating Unit to investigate corruption linked to the hospital.
In September 2025, the SIU revealed that about R2 billion had allegedly been siphoned from Tembisa Hospital through irregular contracts. Individuals linked to the scandal reportedly include controversial figures such as Hangwani Maumela and alleged contract killer Vusi Matlala.
Meanwhile, the Department of Health in Gauteng says Madyo was initially placed on precautionary suspension while investigations relating to procurement matter at Tembisa hospitals were underway.
The Department says due to evidentiary constraints that affected the viability of the process, the Department and Madyo subsequently entered into a termination agreement to bring the employment relationship to an end.
“It is important to clarify that this agreement was concluded in line with applicable labour relations frameworks and was not a “golden handshake,” said the Department in a statement.
“Any pension benefits payable arises from the rules of the Government Employees Pension Fund, which operates independently and in terms of statutory provisions”.
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