PRETORIA – The National Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) has welcomed the appointments of the Provincial Heads of the DPCI in the Free State and the Western Cape provinces.

This follows the appointment of Major General Mokgadi Bokaba as the Free State Provincial Head and Major General Mathipa Makgato as Western Cape Provincial Head.

Major General Bokaba who was previously the Section Head of Priority Crime Specialised Investigation (PCSI) within the Directorate specialising in major financial investigations, cut her teeth in the investigation world when she was appointed as a junior investigator for the then Directorate of Specialised Operations (DSO) commonly known as the “Scorpions”  from 2002. She subsequently held various roles within the DSO until 2007 when she was appointed as a senior investigator within the National Prosecuting Authority’ (NPA) Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU). During her tenure there, she was part of a team tasked with investigating high profile cases that included theft, money laundering, fraud, and racketeering. She had also previously worked at one of the major banks in the country prior to her tenure with the DSO.

Amongst other credentials, Major-General Bokaba holds a B-Tech in Forensic Investigation from the University of South Africa (UNISA), a National Diploma-in Accounting received from Tshwane University of Technology, a Diploma in Forensic Auditing and Criminal Justice completed at the University of Johannesburg, a Programme in Money Laundering and Terror Financing from the University of Johannesburg, and a Post Graduate Programme: Forensic Accountancy which she received at the University of North West.

Major General Makgato started his career as a Constable in 1988 and climbed the ranks of the South African Police when he was promoted to a Captain in 2000. During his tenure as a Captain, General Makgato served as a Commander in the following units: Client Service Centre in Honeydew; Westonaria Detectives, as an Area Task Team Commander and as a Group Commander at Florida Detectives. He was then promoted to a Lieutenant Colonel in 2004 and appointed to the Serious and Violent Crimes unit. He continued his work at as Lieutenant Colonel at Organised Crime in Gauteng and was transferred to Pretoria in 2010 where he assumed his duties as a Group leader and Investigator at the Organised Crime.

In 2010 he was appointed as a Section Commander at DPCI and promoted to a Colonel in 2012 at Serious Organised Crime – Northern Cape. In 2016 he was transferred as a Provincial Commander – Serious Organised Crime. During his tenure as a Provincial Commander, he was promoted to Brigadier and appointed as the Section Head – Serious Organised Crime.

Major General Makgato holds a National Diploma in Public Administration and a B-Tech Degree from Technikon South Africa and is currently studying toward a M-Tech degree at UNISA.

The National Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya welcomed the new appointees and believes that this will go a long way in addressing capacity challenges currently faced by the Directorate.

Source: South African Police Service