Limpopo police commissioner Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe has praised community safety structures in the Niani area, saying their work has become central to policing along the border.
She was speaking at Madimbo Community Hall on Tuesday, 23 June, during the handover of safety equipment to the Niani Community Border Safety Forum.
Residents, traditional leaders and police gathered to reflect on efforts to combat crime in the area. Hadebe said community patrollers continue to play a critical role in supporting police operations, particularly in preventing and responding to cross-border smuggling and vehicle theft.
“Policing is not the responsibility of SAPS alone. The success of Vhembe District proves what can be achieved when communities and police work as one. Niani has become a shining example of partnership policing and one of the force multipliers that have helped make Vhembe the best-performing district in Limpopo,” said Hadebe.
She described forum members as the “eyes and ears” of law enforcement, saying their presence in villages has contributed to the recovery of stolen vehicles, illicit cigarettes and other contraband.
Hadebe said Vhembe District has again been ranked Limpopo's best-performing policing district for the 2024/25 and 2025/26 financial years, attributing the achievement partly to cooperation between SAPS and community structures.
She said the engagement formed part of her final round of community visits before retiring after four decades of service, and thanked the residents of Madimbo, traditional leaders and patrollers for their commitment to working with the police.
The event also included the handover of reflective jackets and other safety equipment funded by the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (PSIRA) to improve visibility and safety during patrols.