Jeff Wicks exposes all: Mkhwanazi, Babita Deokaran, Cyril Ramaphosa, Cat Matlala, News24, New book

Investigative journalist Jeff Wicks unpacks his new book, The Shadow State: Why Babita Deokaran Had to Die. From the harrowing details of Deokaran’s assassination, to the R850 million procurement scandal at Tembisa Hospital, to the catastrophic failures of the Hawks, Wicks traces the web of corruption. He also draws links with Cat Matlala, syndicates tied to billions in state contracts, and even relatives of President Cyril Ramaphosa. We also explore General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi’s explosive allegations about criminal capture of the police, and the chilling reality of cartels operating inside South Africa’s public institutions. This conversation exposes how corruption not only drains the state but costs lives. Become a YouTube Member of SMWX:    / @_smwx   Visit the SMWX store for merch and books: https://smwx.store #literature #corruption #southafrica CONTACT: ✉️: [email protected] 📞WhatsApp Line: 082 891 4935 Visit our website: smwx.africa _______ Credits: Director and DOP: Nomaan Haarzavi for Narr8 Studio Lead Camera Operator: Faizan Haq for Narr8 Studio 2nd Camera Operator: Yusuf Rahman for Narr8 Studio Producer: Oratile Kekana ______ 00:00 – Introduction 00:54 – Babita’s warning before her murder 01:14 – Journalist Jeff Wicks introduces The Shadow State 01:48 – Recounting the day of Babita’s murder 03:51 – Who was Babita Deokaran? 05:20 – Investigations and the Tembisa Hospital report 07:00 – Enemies made by halting R100m in payments 09:00 – How Jeff Wicks became interested in the story 10:18 – Conversations with Babita’s family 11:04 – Corruption in healthcare and Babita’s integrity 12:04 – Pushed out of her post over PPE contracts 14:02 – Criminal trial and plea deal for hitmen 16:29 – Failures of the Hawks’ investigation 18:49 – A cold case with devastating implications 20:00 – Lack of accountability in the health department 22:05 – SIU findings: syndicates and 111 implicated staff 23:38 – The cost of corruption in lives lost 24:16 – Everyday corruption as “state capture 2.0” 25:03 – Criminal networks behind procurement fraud 26:12 – The potential of a value-for-money procurement system 27:02 – How many lives could have been saved? 28:26 – Cat Matlala’s rise and links to Tembisa Hospital 30:47 – Tender wins despite criminal investigations 30:58 – Reflections on the policing commission 33:07 – General Mkhwanazi’s explosive allegations 34:56 – Populism vs. due process in policing 35:26 – Other key tender beneficiaries exposed 38:22 – Shady interviews and bigger “fish” promises 39:16 – President Cyril Ramaphosa’s distant relative Morgan Mamela 40:50 – Mamela as the “Don of Tembisa” 43:57 – How high up does the corruption go? 46:00 – The opacity of government procurement 47:35 – The “shadow state” concept explained 49:25 – Why procurement remains paper-based in 2025 51:40 – The role and limits of the SIU 53:05 – Jeff Wicks on personal risk and persistence 55:33 – Anger at celebrated tenderpreneurs 56:03 – Why Jeff would do it all again 56:08 – Closing remarks & book recommendation