Accused Fraudster Thabo Theletsane Appears in Court for Impersonating Hawks Head

Thabo Theletsane, a 42-year-old man from the Free State, appeared in the Hatfield Magistrate’s Court on Monday, May 12, 2025, facing charges of fraud and impersonation. He allegedly posed as Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya, the head of the Hawks.

According to the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks), Theletsane contacted a prominent Gauteng businessman via WhatsApp in October 2024, pretending to be Lebeya. He claimed the businessman’s phone had been hacked and offered to assist in securing the device. Theletsane used a photo of the National Head and mimicked his manner of speech convincingly, gaining the victim’s trust.

The suspect reportedly requested the victim’s personal details and those of his associates under the pretense of helping with cyber-security concerns. He then claimed to have successfully “debugged” the victim’s phone and asked for payments totaling more than R100,000.

Theletsane was arrested on Saturday, May 10, in Petrus Steyn. The court proceedings were brief, with the matter postponed to Thursday, May 15, for a formal bail application. Theletsane remains in custody.

Lieutenant General Lebeya responded publicly following the arrest, stating, “I am relieved that someone who misused my identity has been apprehended. We cannot allow people to exploit public trust in law enforcement for criminal gain.” He urged anyone who may have been deceived by this individual to come forward and report it.

Colonel Katlego Mogale, Hawks spokesperson, issued a strong warning to the public: “No police officer is permitted to request money for any form of assistance. These actions not only tarnish the reputation of our service but also victimize innocent citizens.”

The Hawks are continuing their investigation and have appealed to the public to report any suspicious or similar incidents. Authorities are probing whether Theletsane may have impersonated other officials or targeted more victims.