POLOKWANE, LIMPOPO – Lieutenant-General Thembi Hadebe, the first woman to serve as Limpopo Provincial Police Commissioner, is set to retire on June 30 after four decades in the South African Police Service (SAPS).
Hadebe, who joined SAPS as a young constable in 1986, described herself as a passionate, diligent, and principled leader throughout her career. She held various commanding and leadership positions before her appointment as Limpopo police commissioner in 2021, beginning a five-year tenure that saw the province recognized as one of the safest in South Africa.
Community-Oriented Policing Approach
Hadebe championed community-oriented policing during her leadership, working closely with civic organizations, traditional councils, Community Policing Forums (CPF), rural safety structures, and mine security operations.
“I find favor in the eyes of the people of the community of Limpopo in particular, the leadership, the church leaders,” Hadebe said. “Many of the people joined the community in blue, the CPF, the rural safety structures were very active, the security within the mines were very active including other security industries that work within the villages or towns as well.”
She added that all stakeholders “came to the party” in the fight against crime.
Cross-Border Crime Challenges
Despite the province’s safety ratings, Hadebe acknowledged significant challenges during her tenure, particularly cross-border crimes. Limpopo’s geographic position, bordering three countries, created unique security concerns.
“The cross-border crimes is one of our problems,” Hadebe stated. “The smuggling of the illicit cigarette is also one of the proliferation of the firearms is also one of the issues that we have because we are a province that borders three countries.”
She noted that her team confiscated numerous detonators and explosives destined for other parts of the country, often used in illicit mining operations and ATM bombings. “We made sure that yes, some might have passed, but we were able to confiscate a number of them,” she said.
Advice to Officers
As she prepared to step down, Hadebe offered guidance to her colleagues in the police service.
“Nobody is bigger than this organization,” she emphasized. “The organization has got principles. It requires men of integrity. So they must distance themselves from anything that is untoward towards the organization.”
She also referenced the minister’s “reset agenda,” urging leaders at all levels to implement these principles and instill them in junior members and community policing forums.
Praise from Stakeholders
Community Policing Forum members expressed appreciation for Hadebe’s hands-on approach and collaboration.
“The work was very excellent and I appreciate everything they did,” one CPF representative said. “We worked very well with her even at roadblocks. She was always active and with us on the ground. She was always supporting us.”
The representative added gratitude for the collaboration and expressed hope that such partnerships would continue in the future.
Labor unions, including the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (POPCRU) and the South African Policing Union (SAPU), praised Hadebe’s crime-fighting strategies and management of major operations.
“She did very remarkable work,” a union representative noted, highlighting specific cases including the investigation of the robbery at Malam SAPS, where Hadebe mobilized necessary human resources and built investigation teams. The representative also cited operations against a gang based in Thohoyandou that was terrorizing the area with robberies, as well as efforts to combat cash-in-transit heists in the province.
“We want to take this opportunity to thank the outgoing provincial commissioner Lieutenant-General Hadebe for the stunning work she has done in the province, for working with us well, for working with communities well, for ensuring that there is labor peace in the province,” the union statement read. “We also want to thank her together with her management that the province has been rated as one of the safest in the country.”
Beyond Policing
Hadebe is also recognized for her philanthropic efforts, particularly her work distributing school uniforms to underprivileged children in the province.
As her 40-year career concludes, Hadebe leaves behind a legacy as a trailblazer and dedicated public servant who helped position Limpopo among South Africa’s safest provinces while navigating complex cross-border security challenges.
