Deon Smit & Associates
PRINCIPAL PRIVATE FORENSIC INVESTIGATOR & DEBT COLLECTOR
Deon Smit & Associates is an established South African private-sector investigative practice specializing in information intelligence, digital forensics, cyber-crime investigations, asset telemetry, and debt recovery. Established with over 17 years of technical experience, the agency bridges traditional field surveillance with advanced electronic evidence triage.
About the Investigator
Deon Smit is a seasoned private forensic investigator with extensive knowledge in information intelligence, digital forensics, and internet-related investigations. With a robust background in telematics and asset tracking backed by specialized international training in Israel, Deon uncovers hidden and deleted evidence, performs data fraud analysis, and provides forensic analysis for complex criminal, civil, and corporate investigations.
Education & Training Record
Foundational Qualifications
MCPS – Microsoft Certified Product Specialist (May 1998)
Microsoft Certified Professional ID: 954909.
Novell GroupWise 5.5 (October 1998)
Communication and Document Management.
Telemetrics & Intelligence Training – Israel (October 2001)
Intelligence and telemetrics training conducted in Israel.
Diploma in Business Management (June 2006)
Subjects/modules: Management Accounting & Finance (Section A & B), Marketing Management, Human Resource Management, Corporate Strategy, and Business Law.
Professional & Investigative Training
PSIRA – Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (August 2013)
Private Investigations (Reg no: 2317325), A Grade Security, B Grade Security, C Grade Security, D Grade Security, E Grade Security.
Intelligence Support Systems (July 2014)
Lawful Interception and Criminal Investigations, Big Data Analytics and Social Network Monitoring, Mobile Location and Electronic Surveillance Interception, Traffic Monitoring and IT Intrusion, Intelligence Analyst Training, Cyber Intelligence Gathering, Online Social Media and Internet Investigations.
BMW Advanced Driving (February 2016)
High Performance 335i advanced driver training.
Crime Scene Investigation & Reconstruction (September 2017)
Forensic investigations conducted by ex-Brigadier Pier Joubert (Forensic Science Lab SAPS).
Digital Forensics – University of Johannesburg (December 2017)
Foundations of Digital Forensics, Digital Evidence Forensics, and Conducting Digital Investigations.
Digital Forensics Seminar – Guidance Software (December 2017)
Advanced digital forensics methodology.
Basic OS Skip Tracing, Backgrounds & Asset Investigations (July 2018)
Developing leads, using personal identifiers, and common informational leads.
Digital Forensics & Digital Evidence (July 2020)
Sources of electronic evidence, data storage and recovery, electronic evidence acquisition, analysis of evidence, and reporting.
Advanced Studies
Anti-Corruption & Procurement Fraud: Private Sector – University of Pretoria (September 2022)
Extent and nature of corruption, human element and corrupt behaviour, South African legal regime, USA and UK legal regimes and their impact on South African entities, corruption and procurement fraud schemes, managing corruption and procurement fraud risks, and whistle-blowing.
Specialised Course – Debt Collection – Gawie Le Roux Institute of Law (July 2023)
Introduction to debt collection, considerations before issuing summons, letter of demand, summons, default judgment, execution by attachment and sale of corporeal property, Section 65 financial enquiry, and additional collection actions.
Stop the Bleed – American College of Surgeons (December 2023)
Gunshot trauma first aid.
Law for Forensic Practitioners – University of Pretoria (May 2024)
Legal issues relating to appointment of personnel, general principles of criminal law, common-law and statutory offences (fraud, theft, misappropriation of trade secrets, corruption, cyber-related crime, and money laundering), law of evidence and constitutional rights, admissibility requirements for evidence, labour law issues, liability of entities and/or officials, remedies available to entities including recovery of ill-gotten gains, and workplace whistle-blowing.
Office of the CISO Institute – Cybersecurity Essentials (July 2025)
Introduction to cybersecurity, laws, policies and frameworks, threats, attacks and vulnerabilities, cybersecurity defences, and organisational security.
Biz Facility – Deceased Estates Process (July 2025)
Drafting a valid last will, competency to make a last will, and statutory requirements.
Complete Education & Study Record (Summary)
| Year | Education / Training Program |
|---|---|
| 1998 | MCPS – Microsoft Certified Product Specialist |
| 1998 | Novell GroupWise 5.5 |
| 2001 | Telemetrics & Intelligence Training – Israel |
| 2006 | Diploma in Business Management |
| 2013 | PSIRA – Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority |
| 2014 | Intelligence Support Systems |
| 2016 | BMW Advanced Driving |
| 2017 | Digital Forensics – University of Johannesburg |
| 2017 | Crime Scene Investigation & Reconstruction |
| 2017 | Digital Forensics Seminar – Guidance Software |
| 2018 | Basic OS Skip Tracing, Backgrounds & Asset Investigations |
| 2020 | Digital Forensics & Digital Evidence |
| 2022 | Anti-Corruption & Procurement Fraud: Private Sector – University of Pretoria |
| 2023 | Specialised Course – Debt Collection – Gawie Le Roux Institute of Law |
| 2023 | Stop the Bleed – American College of Surgeons |
| 2024 | Law for Forensic Practitioners – University of Pretoria |
| 2025 | Office of the CISO Institute – Cybersecurity Essentials |
| 2025 | Biz Facility – Deceased Estates Process |
Professional Registrations & Status
- PSIRA Private Investigator registration: 2317325
- Council for Debt Collectors Registration Number: 0110965/18
- Microsoft Certified Professional ID: 954909
- Member of ICTIF: International Cyber Threat Task Force