Everson Luhanga
Growing up in Mmakau village in North West, Mokgadi Bokaba always knew she wanted to dedicate her career to fighting crime.
Now Major-General Bokaba is the Provincial Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, also known as the Hawks, in the Free State.
However, the 45-year-old once dreamed of achieving the ends of justice as a lawyer, but a tough conversation with her mother set her along another path.
“How would you feel spending time in court defending rapists and murderers?” her mother asked.
This question gave her a lot to think about and she decided to study accounting.
Then Major-General Bokaba had no idea she would one day head one of the country’s highest crime investigation units.
This led her down an unusual route. She now heads units that focus on organised crime, economic crime, corruption, and other serious crimes in the province.
Her portfolio also covers managing units responsible for threat analysis based on cases under investigation as will financial and asset investigations.
In an interview with Scrolla.Africa, Bokaba said although she did not begin her policing career at lower ranks, her experience and successes in investigations have landed her the top job.
“I joined the police as a Brigadier responsible for financial investigation with the focus on identification and investigation of money laundering,” she said.
“My niche remains dealing with financial crimes and addressing the scourge of money laundering as reflected in the 2021 Mutual Evaluation Report of South Africa.”
During her years working in the banks, she said she saved many people from falling into dangerous financial scams.
“I have arrested and put many scammers and fraudsters behind bars. I have put smiles on many people’s faces who were a target of crime,” she said.
She recounted one of her many successful investigations when she put well-known fraudster William “King of Bling” Mbatha behind bars.
“When we deal with fraudsters, we hit them where it hurts the most. In their pockets,” she said.
“We don’t only investigate and support prosecution but we make sure all their assets are forfeited so that they don’t have the financial power to get away with the crime.”
As a young woman entering the job market, Major-General Bokaba worked at the bank where she was responsible for fraud detection before moving on with her career and working for the now disbanded Scorpions.
She subsequently held various roles within the South African Revenue Services until 2007 when she was appointed as a senior investigator within the National Prosecuting Authority and Asset Forfeiture Unit.
As the country celebrates Women’s Month, Major-General Bokaba said she has always advised women in different professions that it is possible for a girl to achieve big dreams.
“It is important that women know and appreciate their worth,” said Bokaba.
“Women around the world must know the power they hold and can do the work males do.”
