President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed Leonard Lekgetho as the new head of the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), in accordance with Section 3(1)(a) of the Special Investigating Units and Special Tribunals Act of 1996.
The appointment takes effect from 1 September 2026.
Lekgetho has served as Acting Head of the SIU since February, following the departure of Advocate Andy Mothibi, who was appointed National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP).
The Presidency said Lekgetho’s permanent appointment is expected to provide greater stability at the SIU and strengthen the institution’s ability to fulfil its mandate.
Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said the SIU’s primary mandate is to investigate serious allegations of corruption, malpractice and maladministration involving state institutions, state assets and public funds.
The unit is also tasked with investigating conduct that may seriously harm the public interest and recovering financial losses suffered by state institutions through civil litigation.
Magwenya said Ramaphosa was confident that Lekgetho’s extensive experience would serve the SIU well.
“Mr Lekgetho’s experience spans 19 years from 2007 to the present in the SIU, during which he served in diverse portfolios, from investigation to his current portfolio of Chief Operations Officer. He also served as an investigator in the former Directorate of Special Operations,” said Magwenya.
Lekgetho holds degrees in law, education and science, as well as a diploma in forensic auditing and a postgraduate diploma in cyber law.
The Presidency said his professional experience and academic qualifications position him to lead the SIU as it continues its work in tackling corruption and recovering funds lost through wrongdoing.
Ramaphosa has extended his best wishes to Lekgetho and expressed confidence that he and the SIU team will continue working to strengthen the fight against corruption and safeguard public resources.
