Limpopo set to learn name of new provincial police commissioner

Limpopo will on Friday, 31 July, officially receive a new Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS), marking the end of an era following the retirement of Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe after an illustrious 40-year policing career.

The announcement will be made by Acting National Commissioner Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane, accompanied by Limpopo Premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba and the province’s MEC responsible for Community Safety. The appointment forms part of SAPS’ nationwide leadership renewal programme, which also includes the appointment of new provincial commissioners in the Western Cape, North West and Mpumalanga.

Although several senior officers have been mentioned in policing circles as possible candidates to succeed Hadebe, SAPS has not publicly confirmed any names ahead of Friday’s announcement. The identity of the successful candidate will only be known when the official announcement is made.

The appointment comes after Hadebe retired at the end of June, bringing to a close a distinguished career spanning four decades in the South African Police Service. She became Limpopo’s first female Provincial Commissioner when she assumed office on 1 May 2021, succeeding the late Lieutenant General Nneke Ledwaba.

During her five-year tenure as Provincial Commissioner, Hadebe was widely credited with strengthening crime-fighting operations, improving police visibility across the province and forging stronger partnerships between SAPS and communities. Under her leadership, police intensified operations against organised crime syndicates, illegal mining, cross-border crime, stock theft and gender-based violence.

She also oversaw several high-profile investigations and policing operations, including action against the notorious Jerusalema gangs that terrorised communities around Seshego. Government leaders and SAPS management praised her for leading from the front, regularly joining operational deployments and mentoring younger police officers.

At her farewell ceremony in Polokwane, provincial leaders described Hadebe as a trailblazer whose leadership helped position Limpopo among the country’s safest provinces. She was also recognised for championing community-centred policing and strengthening cooperation with traditional leaders, community policing forums and other crime prevention stakeholders.

Following her retirement, the provincial office has continued operating under interim leadership pending the appointment of a permanent Provincial Commissioner. SAPS is expected to outline the new commissioner’s priorities during Friday’s announcement as the organisation seeks to reinforce its “Police Reset Agenda”, aimed at improving professional, ethical and accountable policing.

The incoming Provincial Commissioner will inherit the responsibility of leading thousands of police officers across Limpopo while tackling serious crimes, including murders, cash-in-transit robberies, stock theft, illegal immigration, drug trafficking and gender-based violence.

The appointment is expected to usher in a new chapter for policing in Limpopo as SAPS continues its efforts to strengthen public confidence and improve safety throughout the province.