The North-West University (NWU) is set to host a prestigious public lecture that will bring together academia, students, public sector leaders and anti-corruption practitioners to engage on one of the most pressing governance challenges in South Africa.
This prestige lecture forms part of the commitment of the NWU to fostering intellectual engagement on issues of national importance by creating a platform where distinguished leaders, policymakers and experts share knowledge with the academic community of the university and the broader public.
The lecture will take place on 20 August 2026 and feature Leonard Gaoretelelwe Lekgetho, acting head of the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), as the keynote speaker. The lecture will focus on “The evolution of lifestyle audits and cyber forensics in combating public sector corruption”, a topic that highlights the growing importance of technology-driven investigations and ethical leadership in strengthening accountability across the public sector.
As the leading anti-corruption agency in South Africa, the SIU plays a critical role in investigating maladministration, corruption and the misuse of public resources. Under Leonard’s leadership as acting head, the organisation continues to advance efforts aimed at protecting state resources, promoting accountability and restoring public confidence in government institutions.
The lecture is expected to provide valuable insights into the evolution of investigative tools such as lifestyle audits and cyber forensics, while exploring how these approaches are strengthening the fight against corruption in an increasingly digital environment. It will also offer students and academics an opportunity to engage with practical perspectives on governance, ethics, public administration and justice.
Members of the NWU community, as well as invited stakeholders from the government, law enforcement and industry, are expected to attend this thought-provoking engagement.
The lecture will take place in room A7A-702 at the Vanderbijlpark Campus and will be livestreamed.
