Celebrating women: Meet Limpopo’s first female Provincial Commissioner

Media Statement
South African Police Service

POLOKWANE - As we commemorate Women's Month, the South African Police Service (SAPS) proudly honours one of its own trailblazer and female leader, Provincial Commissioner of Limpopo, Lieutenant General Monica Thembi Hadebe.

In 1995, she obtained a Diploma in Police Administration. Her determination saw her acquiring a B Tech Degree in Policing in 2001, then a Certificate in Project Management. She successfully managed a number of projects and major events in the policing sector. She obtained an LLB from Unisa in 2020 and is currently pursuing a Master's Degree. She is also the National Chairperson of the Police Music and Cultural Association (Polmusca).

Lieutenant General Hadebe has broken barriers throughout her illustrious career, rising through the ranks to become one of the highest-ranking female Officer and a shining example of sheer brilliance within the SAPS.

Lieutenant General Hadebe started her police career in 1986 when she joined the ranks at the then KaNgwane Police at Kanyamazane Police Station in Mpumalanga. She worked her way up through the ranks until her appointment as Deputy Provincial Commissioner Support Services and now head of the province.

She has served in various levels of command throughout her 38 years of service.

Lieutenant General Hadebe was the first appointed female Provincial Commissioner of Limpopo after she had been the Deputy Provincial Commissioner of Human Resource Management in Mpumalanga for a period spanning 12 years.

She has made significant strides in the fight against crime, thus making her an inspiration to members of SAPS as well as stakeholders. She has demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities and expertise in managing 105 Police Stations, five Districts and 18 Provincial components, with a total of 8 345 Police Act members and 2 014 Public Service Personnel.

Under her command, the following successes were achieved :

10 suspects responsible for an armed robbery at Malamulele police station in November 2021 were arrested. All stolen firearms and ammunition were recovered during the arrest.

The success was just the beginning of another era for Limpopo Province, as criminal syndicates involved in serious and violent crimes, including drug crime were dismantled. In response to the spate of cash-in transit robberies in Limpopo, Gauteng and Mpumalanga, 19 suspects were fatally wounded in a shootout with the police in September 2023 in Makhado policing area, following a multidisciplinary operation.

Limpopo Province was dealt a huge blow on 22 July 2022, when the Mayor of Collins Chabane Municipality was fatally shot and his son injured at their residence by unknown assailants. Lieutenant General Hadebe had already tightened the screws in

beefing up the dedicated Task teams to address all categories of crimes and five suspects involved in the incident were swiftly apprehended, ultimately convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment in April 2023 by the Limpopo High Court in Polokwane.

Five suspects from uMlazi in KwaZulu-Natal took a chance and robbed a jewellery store at gunpoint in Savannah Mall, Polokwane in May 2023 and made off with R3 million worth of jewellery. The Task team accurately followed up on information leading to Hilton, in Pietermaritzburg, Kwazulu Natal, resulting in the arrest of suspects. The stolen items and a getaway vehicle were successfully recovered.

Over 16 500 suspects were arrested in the past financial year from all five Districts, with charges ranging from murder, attempted murder, robberies, burglaries, rape, assault and fraud amongst others. Operation Vala Umgodi's effectiveness in dismantling illicit operations and preventing further environmental degradation was exemplified by the confiscation of mining equipment to the value of over R35 million.

Moreover, in a concerted effort to combat scourge of Gender-Based Violence and Femicide, the Provincial Commissioner has been spearheading comprehensive campaigns to ensure safety and protection of women and children, including vulnerable groups. The Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit, secured 39 life imprisonment and combined 271 years during a period between 1 April 2023 to 31st July 2024. In December 2023, an Anti-Smuggling Operation to tackle growing concern of smuggling of motor vehicles through the Province was established and to date 26 suspects have been arrested and over R28 million worth of vehicles were recovered.

Under her leadership, the Province has been actively fighting against drug trafficking.

Some recent efforts include the drug bust worth R5 million in Lebowakgomo, Capricorn District in July in which a 45 years old suspect was arrested, followed by the R 2 billion drug lab bust in Groblersdal, Sekhukhune District in which four suspects including a farm owner, 1 South African and 2 Mexican Nationals were arrested. The police also seized a huge consignment of illicit cigarettes in the past financial year.

Ends

Enquiries:
Brigadier Hlulane Mashaba
082 565 6524

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