Communications Minister Novula Mokonyane announced the appointment of Godfrey Lebeya as the head of the Hawks.
Biography
Advocate (Dr) Godfrey Lebeya (born c. 1962) is a respected law enforcement officer. He is best known for his stance against anti-corruption.
Lebeya has served in many roles, from detective to other placements against crimes. He is a veteran law enforcement officer with a gold medal in policing.
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| Quick Facts | |
| Full Name: | Godfrey Lebeya |
| Title: | Advocate, Dr |
| Born: | c. 1962 (age 60 years old) |
| Education: | ND, BIURIS, LLB, LLM, LLD |
| Alma mater: | University of South Africa |
| Marital Status: | Married |
| Occupation: | Police officer, advocate |
| Years Active: | 1984-date |
| Profiles: | |
| Office: | Head of the Hawks |
Early Life
Godfrey Lebeya was born in 1962 in Hlabeleng village, in Bolobedu, Limpopo. He spent his formative attending schools in South Africa. After his matriculation, he moved to live in Stinkwater outside Pretoria with a friend and his family.
Education
Godfrey obtained a master’s of law in criminal law from the University of South Africa. He also holds a doctor of Law (LDD) in criminal law, specializing in the subject of organized crime.
Career
In May 1984, he took his oath of office at a police station in Polokwane in Limpopo (then Northern Transvaal town of Pietersburg).
Godfrey’s first posting was to Hillbrow. He was voted the best detective student in 1987. As a detective, his first case was about a principal who defrauded a school’s education department.
In May 2018, Communications Minister Novula Mokonyane announced his appointment as the new head of the Hawks. He served as a distinguished head of the organized crime unit.
His tenure saw the capture of cash-in-transit kingpins Jimmy Bilankulu and Dick Ngobeni. He carried out a full offensive against hijacking and cash-in-transit syndicates.
Advocate Godfrey served as Lieutenant General in the South African Police Service. He became the deputy National Commissioner in February 2011 and served until May 2016.
In 2014, the advocate took former SAPS Commissioner Riah Phiyega to court. She tried to remove him from his post as deputy national commissioner and force him into early retirement. He survived the lengthy legal onslaught.
Police Service
Godfrey Lebeya’s contribution to policing is astronomical. He was the best student at the SAP Training College, the best candidate for the detective course, and the best candidate for the fraud course. He has also served under and passed the following levels:
- Student Constable
- Constable
- Detective Constable
- Detective Sergeant
- Detective Warrant Officer
- Lieutenant
- Captain
- superintendent
- Senior Superintendent
- Director
- Assistant Commissioner
- Divisional Commissioner
- Lieutenant-General
- Deputy National Commissioner
- Acting National Commissioner
Personal Life
Being a police officer is not always easy, but his wife and children understand. He got married to a policeman and had his children as a policeman.
His family, wife, and children understand his job and have been supportive. To them, being a policeman is his calling.
Social Profiles
Godfrey Lebeya is on LinkedIn and shares his policing and educational highlights.