Hawks national head reflects on achievements ahead of retirement

The outgoing national head of the Hawks, Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya, has praised the unit’s work in dismantling various criminal syndicates during his seven-year tenure. As part of his final national tour, he bid farewell to Hawks members in Polokwane, Limpopo. 

Lebeya highlighted the Hawks’ success in securing convictions for members of syndicates involved in illegal mining, drug manufacturing, cash-in-transit robberies, and corruption. He shared some key statistics to emphasize the unit’s achievements. 

“The DPCI has in this period arrested 17 136 suspects, secured 4677 convictions, we have also dismantled 214 clandestine laboratories. In the last quarter alone, 32 arrests were effected for those who killed police officials.” 

He also commended the investigators who worked on the case that led to the collapse of the now-defunct VBS Mutual Bank, saying, “We know of the likes of VBS, those hard-working investigators who have been able to record more than 2000 statements to prepare case dockets.” 

Lebeya praised his team’s resilience in the face of challenges, particularly during operations that have led to loss and injury. “You have got the likes of those who have been committing cash-in-transit robberies, including those who were challenging us in Makhado, although they also suffered to a certain extent, with one of us losing a limb. But at least the work itself, anyone can see that we are hard at work.” 

In Limpopo, Major General Gopz Govender presented Lebeya with a kudu horn as a token of the province’s appreciation. Govender acknowledged the valuable lessons that the next generation of Hawks members could learn from Lebeya’s leadership and conduct. He also emphasised the anti-corruption efforts in the province, noting that the work had made significant strides. 

“Anti-corruption has made a dent, and we felt it so much so the MEC has engaged me. And we got a meeting with the premier, I think she wants to acknowledge some of the arrests that have been made by anti-corruption.” 

Govender also commended the general commercial crime efforts, pointing out the success of the Hawks in countering counterfeit goods and cigarettes, including a notable discovery of a million rand worth of illicit goods. 

Lebeya, who is set to retire at the end of May, leaves behind a legacy of significant achievements in the fight against crime and corruption in South Africa.