Bio
Seswantsho Godfrey Lebeya (SOE, SOEG) is the former Deputy National Commissioner, Crime Detection in the South African Police Service (SAPS) and former National Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI/Hawks).
He joined the police on 11 May 1984 and passed the training as the best student of the course. He became a Detective in 1986 where he investigated all sorts of serious crimes. He rose through the ranks of student constable, constable, Detective leaner constable, Detective Constable, Detective Sergeant, Detective Warrant Officer, Lieutenant, Captain, Superintendent, Senior Superintendent, Director, Assistant Commissioner, Divisional Commissioner, Lieutenant General (appointed as Divisional Commissioner), Lieutenant General (appointed as Deputy National Commissioner), and Lieutenant General (appointed as National Head).
He also acted in different positions including Area Commissioner, Deputy Provincial Commissioner, Divisional Commissioner of various divisions and National Commissioner of the SAPS. He chaired various fora and represented South Africa on international plane including Interpol.
Educationally, he obtained National Diploma (Police) (1991), Bachelor of Law (BIuris) (1997), Bachelor of Laws (LLB) (2005), Master of Laws (LLM) (2007), and Doctor of Laws (LLD) (2012).
He also completed training courses in Crime Investigation, Basic Fraud, Crime Administration System (CAS), Diversity Training, Experiential Management Training Programme, Senior Management Team Building, Middle Management, Organised Crime Project Management, Dispute Resolution, Basic Computer, SAPS Leadership Programme, Organised and Racketeering by the NPA and United States of America (USA), I-24/7 by Interpol, Money Laundering and Organised Crime by the NPA and USA, International Narcotics Enforcement Management Seminar at Florida by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) of USA, Executive Public Management Development Programme at the University of Pretoria, Law Enforcement Executive Development Seminar (LEEDS session 68) by the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) Academy in Quantico, USA.
He was awarded several medals including SAP 75 years, SAPS ten (10) years Commemoration Medal, ten (10) years, twenty (20) years and thirty (30) years faithful service, SAPS Amalgamation, SAPS Star for Outstanding Service (SOE), SAPS Gold Medal for Outstanding Service (SOEG),
He was admitted as an Advocate of the High Court of South Africa on 28 August 2006. He served his pupillage with Johannesburg society of Advocates (JSA) from January 2015 to December 2015 and practiced from January 2016 to May 2018. He rejoined the JSA on 1 October 2025.
His area of practice includes criminal law, Labour law, and civil litigation.
Qualifications
Publications
Important Cases