Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya, National Head of the DPCI, briefed the media on Thursday 8 May, highlighting a series of successes in arrests, convictions, and asset recoveries across South Africa.

During the reporting period, the Hawks secured the appearance of 656 suspects-comprising 607 individuals and 49 juristic entities-before courts nationwide. Of these, 74% were South Africans and 26% foreign nationals. The Serious Organised Crime Investigation unit accounted for 364 of the arrests, Serious Commercial Crime Investigation for 220, and Serious Corruption Investigation for 72.

Most arrests were made in Gauteng (139), followed by North West (99), KwaZulu-Natal (88), and both Eastern Cape and Free State (73 each). The operations led to the seizure of 395 firearms, 1,746 rounds of ammunition, and the dismantling of seven clandestine drug laboratories with a combined street value exceeding R23 million.

Convictions and Sentences

The DPCI secured convictions against 239 accused during the quarter. In total, 266 individuals-including those convicted in previous quarters-were sentenced, with 55% being South Africans and 45% foreign nationals. The majority of these convictions were in Gauteng. The Serious Organised Crime Investigation unit secured 157 convictions, Serious Commercial Crime 73, and Serious Corruption 9.

Asset Recovery and Financial Impact

The Hawks’ Priority Crime Specialised Investigation unit contributed to 102 freezing and forfeiture orders, with a total value of R419 million. This included 56 preservation orders (R371 million), 45 forfeiture orders (R15 million), and one restraint order (R33 million). Over R19 million was deposited into the Criminal Assets Recovery Account (CARA) during the quarter.

Police Killings

General Lebeya underscored the ongoing threat to law enforcement, reporting 22 police officers murdered during the period-16 off duty and six on duty-with half of these killings occurring in Gauteng. Thirty-eight arrests and 14 convictions (including 11 life sentences) were secured for police killings. The Hawks also arrested 33 police officials for crimes ranging from fraud and corruption to murder, reinforcing the agency’s commitment to police integrity.

Crackdown on Cash-In-Transit Robberies

Fifty incidents of cash-in-transit (CIT) robberies were recorded, leading to 28 arrests (excluding 10 suspects killed in shootouts) and an additional 36 arrests in related cases. Thirteen convictions were secured in CIT-related matters.

Digital Forensics and Crime Analysis

The Hawks’ Digital Forensic Investigation Section completed the extraction and analysis of data from 324 electronic devices within 90 days. The Priority Crime Management Centre processed 129 requests for analysis, while the Evidential Communication Analysis Section handled 358 applications and 29 statements in terms of Section 205 of the Criminal Procedure Act.

Commitment to Justice

Lieutenant General Lebeya reaffirmed the DPCI’s commitment to investigating, preventing, and combating national priority offences “without fear, favour or prejudice.” He emphasized the importance of holding criminals accountable and ensuring justice for victims, stating that attacks on police officials are attacks on society and the state itself.

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This is according to Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) Head, Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya, who briefed the media on Sunday.

At least 13 of the officers were off duty at the time of the incidents, while four were on duty when they were killed.

The Lieutenant General condemned police killings, which the DPCI categorised as a national priority offence that “requires the attention of the DPCI”.

“There exists a blue wall in South Africa. A human wall formed by men and women in blue. The wall that divides and shield the good from the bad elements in society. The stronger the wall, the safer the community.

“The weaker the wall, the happier the criminals. Criminals will continuously attack this wall in order to access the protected good citizens of this beloved country. An attack of police officials is an assault on society and indeed an attack on the State,” he said.

He cited four examples of arrests and convictions secured following the killing of an officer, including that of a man who masterminded the killing of his own wife, who was seven months pregnant at the time.

“On 23 June 2022, Constable Prudence Masuku, who was stationed at Daveyton SAPS [South African Police Service] was murdered in Putfontein while on her way to work [and was] accompanied by her husband, James Veli Masuku.

“The husband alleged that they were confronted by two taxis, where the passengers of both taxis approached them and began firing several shots at the deceased, while he ran for cover. He said that upon returning to the vehicle, he found that his wife’s service pistol had gone missing.

“Investigations by the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation and ballistic results revealed that the service pistol belonging to the deceased was in fact the very weapon that was used to murder the member,” Lebeya said.

During investigations, law enforcement officials Veli Masuku and Xolani Lawrence Dlamini after swiftly reacting to information about a suspect demanding cash from a middleman for murdering the police officer.

“On 08 April 2024, Masuku and Dlamini – who pleaded not guilty – were convicted of murder, theft of firearm, two counts of illegal possession of firearm and defeating the administration of justice.

“On 23 August 2024, the Gauteng High Court sitting in Benoni sentenced Masuku and Dlamini to life imprisonment for murder. They were further sentenced to five years imprisonment for the theft of a firearm, five years imprisonment for possession of unlicensed firearm, and three years imprisonment for illegal possession of ammunition, which runs concurrently with the life imprisonment sentence. They were further declared unfit to possess firearms in the future,” Lebeya said.

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This is according to Hawks Head, Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya, who briefed the media on Sunday to outline progress and take stock of milestones achieved during the second quarter of the 2024/25 financial year.

“The DPCI remains committed to its mandate of investigating, preventing, and combating national priority offences without fear, favour or prejudice. The DPCI has made significant inroads in apprehending individuals involved in high-profile cases, thus ensuring accountability and justice for the victims.

“These arrests targeted people involved in serious corruption, serious organised crime, serious commercial crime, including fraud, theft, money laundering, police killings, cash-in-transit robberies, illegal mining, drug trafficking, damage to essential infrastructure and trafficking in endangered species,” he said.

During the reporting period, some 818 natural and juristic persons were arrested and appeared in courts around the country.

Most of the suspects were arrested in Gauteng, the North West and KwaZulu-Natal.

During these arrests, some 84 firearms and 2 049 rounds of ammunition were seized. Seven clandestine drug laboratories were dismantled, with a total value exceeding R17 million.

“During this same period, the Directorate secured convictions on 301 accused. Of these convictions, 285 accused persons, inclusive of 13 juristic persons, were sentenced, while the balance of 16 convicts are to be sentenced on dates after the quarter under review.

“Of the 272 sentenced natural persons, 164 are South Africans, while 108 are foreign nationals. Most of these convictions and sentences were secured in the Gauteng province.

“Of these convictions, the Serious Organised Crime Investigation unit secured 143, Serious Commercial Crime Investigation secured 120 and Serious Corruption Investigation secured 22. We shall, in the coming months, analyse the 16 convicts, as and when they are sentenced,” Lebeya said.

Furthermore, the Priority Crime Specialised Investigation has “contributed towards the issuing of a combined 75 freezing and forfeiture orders”, amounting to more than R72 million.

“An amount of R8 178 798 has been deposited into the Criminal Assets Recovery Account. These [bring] the total recorded successes on arrests, convictions and attachment of assets to 1 194.

“[In] line with our moto of ‘Seek, find and strike’, the DPCI shall continue to execute its mandate without fear, favour or prejudice, in accordance with the Constitution and other laws of the Republic,” Lebeya said.

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