Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya reflects on his legacy in the SAPS
Image: Ntswe Mokoena/GCIS
Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya spoke fondly of his trials and tribulations, including being the best student of the course in June 1985 during his last media briefing before retiring from the SAPS on 1 June 2025.
The SAPS- Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI-Hawks) held a legacy report briefing for the outgoing National Head in Pretoria on Saturday.
Lebeya reflected on his tenure at the helm of the DPCI from 2018 to 2025 and offered insights into the milestones, challenges, and achievements during his leadership. In his parting shot, Lebeya recommended that part of the improvement plan for the SAPS should include:
Work on capacitation of the DPCI to achieve 100% human resource capacity. Lebeya requested authority's to provide financial resources to achieve this.
Work on the implementation of the remaining provisions of the SAPS Act.
Work on the acquisition of the office accommodation for the personnel.
Continue to work on acquisition of modern tools of trade.
Continue to build the DPCI to be a criminal Investigative elite unit of South Africa.
Lebeya began working in the SAPS at the Sophiatown Police Station on 12 May 1984 and said he aspired to be a mechanical engineer, but his application to the SAPS Benoni Mechanical School was unsuccessful. Over the years he worked at Hillbrow SAPS in Crime Prevention and Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in the house-breaking and theft unit.
He was later transferred to investigate more serious cases such as murders, robberies, bribery, forgery, uttering and fraud.
Lebeya went on to establish the Johannesburg North Fraud Section which was based at Sandton police station. In January 2000, he was appointed the Provincial Head of Specialised Investigations in Gauteng Province and by November 2000, he was appointed the Provincial Head of Detective Service in Gauteng on the rank of Assistant Commissioner, the current Major General rank.
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Advertisement
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Next
Stay
Close ✕
In his academic pursuit, Lebeya completed a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree and by 2006 was admitted as an Advocate of the High Court of South Africa. Lebeya also pursued a Doctorate degree which was conferred in the field of Law, Doctor of Laws (LLD) in 2012 on the topic of 'Understanding Organised Crime'. One of his crowning moments came in June 2018, when he was appointed as the National Head of the DPCI.
'Part of the style of investigation is to conduct major investigations. In Project-Driven Investigations, we initiated 113 complex projects and successfully concluded 67 which is 75% while others are still pending and others unsuccessful. A total number of 566 arrests were effected,' he said .
Lebeya said he worked on enhancing technological systems and believed that the Digital Forensic Unit is growing with public private partnerships.
'We have established the Forensic Accounting Investigation which has also partnered with business to ensure transferal of skills. Our coordination of work has been enhanced with the operationalisation of the National Priority Crime Investigations and its sub-committees,' Lebeya said.
zainul.dawood@inl.co.za
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
10 hours ago
- IOL News
Hawks continuing investigation into mysterious theft of R200 million drugs theft at DCPI offices
The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, commonly known as the Hawks, has confirmed that the investigation into the circumstances surrounding this elaborate heist is ongoing, yet clarity remains elusive. Image: File More than four years after R200 million worth of drugs vanished from the Port Shepstone Serious Organised Crime offices in 2021, the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), known as the Hawks, states that the circumstances surrounding the disappearance remain uncertain and are still under investigation. At the time, the Hawks announced the launch of an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding this unexpected break-in, which set tongues wagging over the R200 million cocaine theft. However, the VP Justice Foundation, through its founder, Visham Panday has questioned whether anyone has been held accountable for the theft. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ With the ongoing spotlight on police inflitration by alleged drug kingpins, Panday has placed the blame squarely on Major General Lesetja Senona, the head of the province's Hawks. "How come General Senona was not suspended when the drugs disappeared from his watch. He is still being paid a salary, when more than 200 million worth of drugs were allegedly stolen. Now that the NPA has launched the investigation, heads are rolling. That surprises us as the VP Justice Foundation, we want to know why Senona and his team are not arrested. We know about the investigation, but the question is, what are they doing about it?" he said. In 2021, responding to the break-in, Hawks spokesperson, Brigadier Nomthandazo Mbambo, in a statement, said the incident was suspected to have occurred between 4 pm and 7 am, after which a case of business burglary having been registered for further investigation. 'The suspects gained entry into the building by forcing open the windows. One of the safes in the office, which was used to store exhibits, was tampered with. The suspects stole 541kg of cocaine drugs to the street value of R200 000 000 and ransacked the office where safes were kept,' she said. This week, Mbambo said the Hawks are investigating the matter stating:"Investigation into the theft of drugs at the DPCI Port Shepstone still continues and details thereof cannot be made available to the public so as to protect the integrity of the investigation." In an email to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the Gosai and Incoporated said it is aware of the NPA investigation involving Major General Senona related to the R200 million drug theft. "Our clinet calls for the immediate suspension of General Senona and other implicated persons, pending the finalisation of the investigation and decision, and instructs that he is the person in the possession of the evidence whichhwhich could be of assistence and is prepared to meet with the NPA to handover." However, the NPA was never able to confirm the alleged investigation into the matter following attemps to get comment from the NPA with Generl Senona also not available to respond to the allegations.
IOL News
11 hours ago
- IOL News
Two cops granted R3000 bail over truck looting incident
An ongoing investigation into the looting of a cargo truck carrying washing powder has led to multiple arrests, including police officers. Image: File Limpopo police have intensified their investigation into the looting of a cargo truck carrying washing powder, arresting two more suspects, bringing the total to five, including three officers implicated in the crime. Police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba confirmed that two more suspects, aged 39 and 51, were arrested at their homes on July 25 for their role in the July 14 looting of washing powder from a cargo truck. The pair are members of the public who allegedly took part in the brazen theft. Previously, The Star reported on how a cargo truck transporting washing powder veered off the road, causing its load to spill onto the road. As the driver attempted to manage the scene, chaos broke out, with bystanders, two police officers, and a SAPS cleaner allegedly seen helping themselves to the scattered goods. Instead of assisting, the officers reportedly loaded the detergent into a marked police vehicle and drove off, ignoring the driver's pleas to stop the looting. The driver, however, managed to gather critical information, which helped spark an investigation and led to several arrests. Some of the stolen items were later found at the residence of one of the implicated police officers. Ledwaba added that the three suspects, all employed by SAPS in Modimolle, were arrested for theft and defeating the ends of justice. They have since appeared in the Modimolle Magistrate's Court on July 25, where they were each granted bail. Their next court appearance is set for October 2. "Warrant Officer Frans Ndlovu (55) and Warrant Officer Lesiba Boya (49) were granted bail of R3000 each. Meanwhile, Cleaner Lucas Moima (50) was granted R5000 bail. They will appear again on 02 October 2025 for further Police investigation." The two newly arrested suspects are expected to appear in the local Magistrate's Court on Monday, 28 July 2025, to face theft charges. The Star [email protected]
The Star
11 hours ago
- The Star
Two cops granted R3000 bail over truck looting incident
Masabata Mkwananzi | Published 20 minutes ago Limpopo police have intensified their investigation into the looting of a cargo truck carrying washing powder, arresting two more suspects, bringing the total to five, including three officers implicated in the crime. Police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba confirmed that two more suspects, aged 39 and 51, were arrested at their homes on July 25 for their role in the July 14 looting of washing powder from a cargo truck. The pair are members of the public who allegedly took part in the brazen theft. Previously, The Star reported on how a cargo truck transporting washing powder veered off the road, causing its load to spill onto the road. As the driver attempted to manage the scene, chaos broke out, with bystanders, two police officers, and a SAPS cleaner allegedly seen helping themselves to the scattered goods. Instead of assisting, the officers reportedly loaded the detergent into a marked police vehicle and drove off, ignoring the driver's pleas to stop the looting. The driver, however, managed to gather critical information, which helped spark an investigation and led to several arrests. Some of the stolen items were later found at the residence of one of the implicated police officers. Ledwaba added that the three suspects, all employed by SAPS in Modimolle, were arrested for theft and defeating the ends of justice. They have since appeared in the Modimolle Magistrate's Court on July 25, where they were each granted bail. Their next court appearance is set for October 2. " Warrant Officer Frans Ndlovu (55) and Warrant Officer Lesiba Boya (49) were granted bail of R3000 each. Meanwhile, Cleaner Lucas Moima (50) was granted R5000 bail. They will appear again on 02 October 2025 for further Police investigation. " The two newly arrested suspects are expected to appear in the local Magistrate's Court on Monday, 28 July 2025, to face theft charges. The Star [email protected]
