Lebeya Defends Controversial Appointment Despite Mounting Allegations

SABC News reports that the Parliament’s Police Portfolio Committee has raised serious concerns about the appointment of Major General Patrick Mbotho as a Divisional Commissioner in the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks). Mbotho, once head of the Family Violence, Child Protection, and Sexual Offences Unit, admitted in 2017 to sharing pornographic content on a Detectives Commanders WhatsApp group. The committee’s outrage doesn’t end there, as they have linked Mbotho to Cape Town’s notorious underworld figures and cited his alleged interference in investigations as a reason to deem him unfit for such a high-ranking position.
However, Hawks head Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya stood firmly in defence of Mbotho, highlighting his 38 years of service and his key role in cleaning up corruption in Gauteng. Addressing Parliament, Lebeya assured that all procedures were followed and that Mbotho had been disciplined accordingly. “Does discipline mean he’s banned from ever applying for a position again?” asked Lebeya. But as more details emerge, including a court case dealing with extortion, Ian Cameron, Chair of the Police Portfolio Committee, remains critical of Mbotho’s integrity.
Why are individuals with known ties to crime allowed to occupy critical law enforcement roles? Should past disciplinary actions involving serious misconduct be a permanent mark against holding positions of power? When the leadership of anti-crime institutions defends such appointments, are we truly serious about ending corruption?