Hundreds of people, including well-wishers from the rural village of Matavhela, gathered at the River View Lodge at Nandoni Dam last Thursday (21 November) to bid farewell to one of the province's best-known senior police officers, Col Rudzani Patricia Rakhadani.
The 60-year-old commander of the Visible Policing (Vispol) unit in Vhembe retired after serving in the SAPS for nearly 40 years. She joined the police service in January 1984 at the age of 18, transitioning from the then Venda National Force (VNF).
During the farewell ceremony, Rakhadani said she had always aspired to be a police officer, with a passion for protecting the country's citizens. She particularly enjoyed the visible policing aspect of her work as it allowed communities to see first-hand that crime does not pay.
Col Rakhadani was involved in numerous projects to improve police visibility in local communities, including organising SAPS beauty pageants. Attending the farewell function were the Vhembe District's 2024 Queen and King, Sgts Felicia Tshikosi and Nditsheni Mutswaletswale, as well as Miss South Africa Disability Queen 2024, Mathilda Mamatseane.
Among the many tributes was one from the former Provincial Commissioner of Police in Limpopo, Lt-Gen Sengani, who shared how he had mentored Rakhadani early in her career. Current Vhembe District Commissioner Maj-Gen Eddie Van Der Walt described her as a "veteran who demonstrated exceptional performance and leadership."
Lt-Gen Thembi Hadebe, the Provincial Commissioner of SAPS Limpopo, delivered a heartfelt speech, praising Rakhadani's ability to spearhead and organise key events with grace and purpose. She noted that this skill went beyond event planning, reflecting Rakhadani's significant contribution to fostering unity and camaraderie within the SAPS.
Rakhadani's career began at the Sibasa Training College and included key leadership roles, such as station commander positions in Alldays, Tshamutumbu, Tshaulu, Malamulele, and Phalaborwa. These roles paved the way for her appointment as Vispol Commander for the Vhembe District in 2022, a position she held with distinction.