Lebeya brings new era at crime-busting unit Hawks

The police’s crime-busting unit, the Hawks, finally have a new head, almost a year after the appointment of its previous boss was declared unlawful.

Communications Minister Nomvula Mokonyane made the announcement yesterday that General Godfrey Lebeya was now in charge of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation.

Lebeya’s predecessor, Berning Ntlemeza, was appointed in September 2015, a few months after the High Court in Pretoria ruled that he was biased and dishonest, and lacked integrity, in a court case involving the Gauteng Hawks.

Meanwhile, the portfolio committee on police wants the Hawks to refocus its efforts to fighting corruption.

In welcoming the appointment, committee chair Francois Beukman said: “General Lebeya is a good and considerate choice.

“We believe he has the necessary qualifications and experience to lead the Hawks in a new era, where corruption-busting will be the number one priority.”

He said Lebeya had served the police with “distinction” and had the credentials to make a success of his new position.

The committee was convinced the appointment marked a new era in the Hawks, in which Lebeya would have to refocus the unit on transnational crime; the organised drug and illegal firearms trade; and crime syndicates in the economic sector.

Beukman said the amendment of Saps Act was now critical because the Hawks should have a separate budget vote to strengthen their independence.