Leonard Lekgetho has been appointed as the head of the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) as of 1 September 2026.
Lekgetho replaces Advocate Andy Mothibi who exited his position as head of the SIU on 1 February, to become the National Director of Public Prosecutions.
The SIU said in a statement, “From the landscapes of Taung in the North West, a new chapter of leadership begins for the Special Investigating Unit (SIU). We are proud to announce the appointment of Mr Leonard Gaoretelelwe Lekgetho as the Acting Head of the SIU by the President. Mr Lekgetho is a leader whose entire career has been a relentless pursuit of justice, integrity, and accountability.
“His appointment is one of continuity in the fight against corruption. It began on the front lines as a Special Investigator with the Directorate of Special Operations, also known as the Scorpions, where he honed his skills in investigating fraud, organised crime, and cybercrime offences.”
“Though the era of the Scorpions ended, his venom against corruption did not. He brought that same unwavering resolve to the SIU, an institution symbolised by the cobra, an emblem of focus, precision, and decisive action. From Scorpion to Cobra, his transition was not a departure, but an evolution in service to the same cause.”
Following his appointment, the new SIU Head said, “Firstly, I want to congratulate Adv Mothibi most sincerely on his appointment as the National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP). I also want to express my gratitude to him for the 10 years we have worked closely together.
“I am immensely grateful to have served under his leadership, as the SIU has transformed into a powerful entity for accountability, demonstrating impressive capabilities in intricate civil investigations, legal proceedings, and the recovery of public funds. His appointment as the NDPP will strengthen the SIU’s relationship with the NPA. We will carry the baton forward and strengthen the SIU as the guardian of the public purse.”
The mandate of the SIU is to investigate serious allegations of corruption, malpractice and maladministration in the administration of state institutions, state assets and public money as well as any conduct which may seriously harm the interests of the public, and to recover any financial losses suffered by state institutions through civil ligation. The SIU is empowered to take civil action to correct any wrongdoing it uncovers in its investigations.
About Leonard Lekgetho
Lekgetho is not new at the SIU. He is a long-standing leader at the Unit with over 20 years of experience. Within the SIU, Mr Lekgetho rose through key leadership roles, from Chief Forensic Investigator to Projects Director, Chief National Investigations Officer, Chief Operations Officer and now the Acting Head of the SIU. He has been the heartbeat of many SIU investigations. He continues to deepen his oversight of high-profile investigations and expand his strategic command, preparing him to lead the institution he has helped to shape.
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.
He holds an LLB, a B.Sc. Honours in Geographic Information Systems, and specialised diplomas in Criminal Justice, Cyber Law, Advanced Project Management and others. Further strengthening his leadership are training at the FBI Academy in Washington D.C., and the Commonwealth Africa Anti-Corruption Centre, which equipped him with both a national and global perspective on anti-corruption strategy and institutional governance.
