Ramaphosa Appoints SIU Veteran Leonard Lekgetho as Permanent Head

Lekgetho, who has acted in the position since February following the departure of former SIU head Advocate Andy Mothibi to lead the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), assumes the permanent role to ensure stability and uninterrupted momentum in civil litigation and asset recovery efforts.

THE DEFINITION:

Special Investigating Units Act & Civil Litigation Mandate
Operational and statutory mechanisms governing the SIU rest on core principles:

Proclamation Authority: The statutory process under the SIU Act authorizing the unit to investigate systemic corruption and maladministration in state entities.

Civil Litigation & Asset Recovery: The specialized mandate enabling the SIU to institute civil proceedings in the Special Tribunal to cancel unlawful contracts and recover stolen public funds.

Institutional Continuity: Preserving operational leadership to prevent delays in multi-year forensic investigations across national and provincial departments.

KEY DEVELOPMENTS IN THE ANNOUNCEMENT
Permanent Appointment: President Ramaphosa formally named Leonard Lekgetho as the permanent SIU head.

Decades of Experience: Lekgetho brings 19 years of experience within the SIU, having previously served as Chief Operations Officer and Chief National Investigations Officer.

Succession Realized: The appointment completes the leadership transition prompted when Advocate Andy Mothibi departed to become National Director of Public Prosecutions.

Focus on Continuity: The Presidency highlighted that the appointment provides strategic stability for ongoing high-profile forensic probes and asset recovery litigation.