Suspect arrested for impersonating Hawks head Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya
The suspect was impersonating Hawks head Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya.
Image: Fikile Marakalla/GCIS
A man was arrested in the Free State on Saturday on charges of fraud and impersonating a police officer.
The 42-year-old man was arrested for specifically impersonating the National Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (known as Hawks), Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya.
Hawks spokesperson, Brigadier Thandi Mbambo, confirmed the arrest and stated the suspect was trying to extort a businessman.
'In October 2024, the suspect allegedly contacted a prominent South African businessman residing in Gauteng via WhatsApp, falsely claiming to be Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya, the National Head of the Hawks.'
'Using a profile picture and personal details resembling those of Lieutenant General Lebeya, the suspect deceived the victim. It is alleged that the suspect claimed that the mobile phone of the victim had been hacked and, under the pretext of assisting with a security breach, requested the victim's personal information,' Mbambo said.
The businessman, who believed he was indeed communicating with the National Head of the Hawks, provided his personal details and contact information of close associates.
'The suspect later solicited money, claiming to have successfully 'de-bugged' the victim's mobile devices. An amount that is more than R100,000 was subsequently paid by the victim,' Mbambo said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
an hour ago
- IOL News
'Apartheid Tactics' - Cholota's lawyer slams State after court declares her extradition unlawful
iol A South African court has ruled Moroadi Cholota's extradition from the US unlawful. Her lawyer called the arrest 'an abuse of power,' saying she was targeted for refusing to implicate Ace Magashule in the R255m asbestos case. Image: NPA and Oupa Mokoena "We have always said that the conduct of the State was unlawful and unfair." These were the sentiments of Piet Thabane, attorney for Moroadi Cholota, Ace Magashule's assistant, who won her legal battle in the R255 million Free State Asbestos case. The court recently ruled that Cholota's extradition from the United States of America (USA) was unlawful. The 37-year-old was arrested in the US in April 2024, where she was kept in police custody and extradited to South Africa in August 2024. She was charged with fraud and corruption in the R255 million Free State asbestos roofing case. The final year political science student was kept in police custody for seven days and released on R2,500 bail in the Bloemfontein Magistrate's Court in August 2024. Shortly after being released on bail, Cholota launched an urgent application against the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to dismiss the charges against her and to declare her extradition unlawful, which was subsequently dismissed. In her founding affidavit, Cholota claimed that the NPA's intention has always been to 'degrade, humiliate and inflict cruel punishment on me for what the State deems as a failure to co-operate with it'. 'As I stated previously, the Asbestos Project has been investigated at length by other State agencies over and above the State Capture Commission, such as the Public Protector, the Special Investigating Unit, and the Auditor General. 'In none of these reports was I ever mentioned, let alone implicated.' 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 Next Stay Close ✕ Speaking to IOL, Thabane said Cholota's arrest and extradition were an abuse of power. "The main reason she was subjected to this unfair treatment was because she refused to implicate her boss, the former Premier Magashule." This week, the court ruled that it had no jurisdiction to try Cholota as her extradition from the United States of America was unlawful. Thabane said during the trial-with-a-trial, the State called two witnesses who had nothing to do with the extradition. "We did not present new facts, but the State failed to meet the minimum standard of proving their case." He described Cholota's arrest in the US as an apartheid tactic. "They thought they could intimidate her." Thabane said his client is relieved and vindicated. "It has been over a year since she has been dealing with this. But it is far from over. We are considering various options because my client's Constitutional Rights were grossly violated." When asked if she would be going back to the US to complete her political studies at Maryland University, Thabane said it was still early days. Thabane said he was aware that the NPA intended to appeal the matter and welcomed the decision. "They will only embarrass themselves."
IOL News
2 hours ago
- IOL News
DA pressure reignites SANDF COVID drug investigation
Both the Hawks and the SIU are proceeding with the investigation into SANDF Cuban Covid looting spree, says the writer. The criminal investigation into how over R250 million was misspent by the SA National Defence Force in 2020 on an unapproved anti-COVID vaccine from Cuba is advancing again after significant DA pressure. Both the Hawks and the SIU are proceeding with this investigation, and complainant statements were taken in person this week to support the charges the DA laid with the SAPS in 2022. Because the criminal investigation had gone cold, the DA used Parliamentary Questions to the Minister of Police to prompt him on the delay in the investigation, and wrote letters to the Minister too, and following this DA intervention, the criminal investigation has been revived. The DA will now push for concrete timelines for the full investigation of this case, and we expect that it will be handed over for prosecution. Those responsible for the SANDF Cuban Covid looting spree, under the guise of a public health emergency, must be held to account — regardless of their rank or political connections. During the most recent sitting of the Joint Standing Committee on Defence (JSCD), the DA successfully proposed that all Hawks and SIU investigations into corruption and maladministration in the SANDF - including this scandal - be reported on quarterly. The committee supported this proposal, marking a critical step in restoring transparency and oversight in historical defence misspending. 'Whilst always abroad', Minister Motshekga may be comfortable with impunity in uniform. The DA is not. We will continue to demand answers and ensure that the Minister of Defence focuses her attention on Defence priorities inland. Nicholas Gotsell (MP) DA NCOP Member on Security & Justice
IOL News
2 hours ago
- IOL News
WSU Protest: Students to appear in court after violence erupts over bail decision
Five Walter Sisulu University students will appear in court on Thursday. Five people arrested in connection with violent protests at the Walter Sisulu University (WSU) in the Eastern Cape are expected to appear in court on Thursday. According to police, protests turned violent at the institution's Mthatha main campus after news emerged residence manager, Manelisi Mampane, was granted R10,000 bail by the Mthatha Magistrate's Court on Tuesday. Mampane is accused of fatally shooting student Sisonke Mbolekwa during a protest in April this year. At the time, the students who were protesting over the poor condition of residences were reportedly marching towards the manager's on-campus residence when live shots were fired.
