By: Natasha Archary

Lieutenant General Monica Thembi Hadebe is Limpopo’s first female Provincial Commissioner, and has been recognized as a trailblazer and strong female leader.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) is commemorating Women’s Month by honouring women within their ranks.
Lt. Gen. Hadebe moved up from Deputy Provincial Commissioner of Human Resource Management in Mpumalanga where she was for 12 years and has broken barriers throughout her illustrious career, to become one of the highest-ranking female officers within SAPS.
The Provincial Commissioner began her career in 1986 when she joined the KaNgwane Police at Kanyamazane Police Station in Mpumalanga.
She has served in various levels of command throughout her 38 years of service.
SAPS has noted the following successes under Lt. Gen. Monica Thembi Hadebe’s command:
- 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 crimes 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.
- 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.
Under Lt. Gen. Hadebe’s 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-year-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.
Also read: Zanele Mbokazi-Nkambule has passed following battle with cancer



