POLOKWANE – In an effort to strengthen Crime Prevention in the Province, the Provincial Commissioner of Police in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe has appointed Brigadier Isaac Madala Mhlongo as the new Provincial Head of Proactive Policing (Visible Policing).
Brigadier Mhlongo is a veteran Police Officer whose extensive experience in the SAPS has rendered him competent to the core functions of the organisation through trial, practical knowledge and education. With his 32 years of experience, Brigadier Mhlongo began his career as a Special Constable in 1990 when he completed his training in Koeberg, Cape Town.
In 1994, he escalated to the rank of Constable and returned to training at Maleoskop Training Institution to further his career. Brigadier Mhlongo worked in various environments including the Charge Office, where he worked for several years.
By the year 2000, he had developed a strong work ethic and meticulous attention to detail. Realising his capacity, his superiors deployed him to the Ermelo Local Criminal Record Centre (LCRC); where he excelled and was nominated outstanding Officer by Middelburg Provincial Criminal Record Centre (CRC) Inspection team. This was for his duties in the processing of the exhibits (Forensic: DNA, Ballistic, etc), photo albums and fingerprints; which resulted in securing multiple convictions for serious and violent crimes.
In 2002, Brigadier Mhlongo was transferred to Newcastle Local Criminal Record Centre (LCRC) in Kwazulu Natal, where he introduced operational transformation, which earned him yet another nomination as the best employee by the Serious and Violent Crimes Unit.
He was then promoted to Philippi Railway in the (Western Cape) in 2004, to operate in the positions of Operational and Relief Commander simultaneously, holding the rank of Captain. This is where he operated with a team of dedicated Police Officers and all other external role players to reduce crime in the area; which included incidents of serious injuries and fatalities involving trains. He also utilised the extended arm of the law to reduce the rail transport system sabotage, as well as vandalism crimes throughout the railway environment.
In 2009, he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel as an Operational Commander in Cape Town International Airport (Western Cape) where he successfully handled international and local events without any incidents. His persistence and passion carried him and his team to be nominated in the category as the best operational team in terms of Service delivery in 2014.
Brigadier Mhlongo was then transferred to ORS: Border Policing environment at Maupa Naga in Pretoria as Land Sub-Section Commander, where he was tasked with monitoring and evaluating various Border Policing Environments around the country (all Provinces of South Africa).
In 2016, he was promoted to the rank of Colonel and served as Provincial Commander for ORS: Border Policing in the Eastern Cape, where he headed the Land (vehicles, Persons and Stock theft, Air (Cargo) and Sea (Containers) Border Units; where he was responsible for monitoring in the Enhanced Movement Control System (EMCS), to ensure that all wanted suspects are arrested and incidents and/or all possible illegal movements at the Port of Entry are dealt with.
In 2020, Brigadier Mhlongo was transferred to Tshwane District as Vispol Coordinator and later acted as Tshwane District Vispol Commander until 30 September 2022.
He finally made his way to Limpopo Province, where he intends to share his expertise through his appointment in the leadership role. Brigadier Mhlongo holds a Diploma and Baccalaureus Technologiae (BTech) Degree in Policing.
The Provincial Commissioner: Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe has urged Brigadier Mhlongo to apply all the practices, principles and work ethics that he has developed throughout his career to lead him to the height he is in today; to blend with members in the province in order to eradicate social ills that are leading residents towards crime, contribute towards restoring the moral fibre in our communities and strengthen the organisation in the fight against crime.
Source: South African Police Service