After an outstanding 39-year career of dedicated service, transformation, and service to the people, the South African Police Service (SAPS) in Limpopo formally bade bon voyage to one of its most decorated leaders – Major General Hlagodi Christina Morakaladi, Deputy Provincial Commissioner Support Services – on 31 May 2025.
Tenderly known as “The Nurturer” by her peers, Major General Morakaladi has blazed a trail of legacy marked by operational effectiveness and people-centric leadership. Her retirement marks the end of an eminent period for SAPS Limpopo, and her departure leaves a model for transformative service and empathetic leadership.
From constable to Command
Major General Morakaladi began her SAPS service in 1986 when she attended basic training in Hammanskraal and was posted at Mankweng Police Station. Her outstanding abilities were soon recognised, and she was assigned to Crime Intelligence, an ambitious role for a woman police officer at that time.
She would go on to serve in influential administrative roles across the province – from Lebowa Headquarters in Seshego to the Lebowakgomo Head Office. At Nebo Police Station, she was a standout in client service operations, a harbinger of her career-spanning emphasis on the human side of policing.
A leader in Development and Inclusion
In 1993, Major General Morakaladi made history again being one of the first officers to be seconded to the SAPS National Head Office, and she was a Warrant Officer. Upon her return to the province, she was commissioned as a facilitator in Provincial Human Resource Development, and she reengineered SAPS training methodologies to suit evolving policing needs.
By 2001, having been elevated to the rank of Captain, she was responsible for recruitment for the province. Her work here was revolutionary – she introduced open systems to guarantee fairness, merit, and integrity in officer selection. Her modern approach to this matter continues to affect recruitment throughout the country.
Major General Morakaladi’s leadership style was defined by inclusion. She played a pivotal role in cultural development programmes, chairing activities like Police Music and Cultural Association (POLMUSCA), Poitjiekos (small-pot food) competitions, and SAPS Sports initiatives, promoting cohesion and morale within the force.
Pioneering Police Wellness
While acknowledging the cost of policing in terms of psychology, Major General Morakaladi institutionaled Employee Health and Wellness in SAPS operations in Limpopo. By her advocacy of counseling services and trauma support to members, she laid the foundation for a pampered and robust police service.
She also led in providing dignified funeral services for fallen officers as well as holistic care to bereaved families – initiatives which have become beacons of care in SAPS operations.
Her leadership also encompassed integration of reservists and volunteers, creating new opportunities for community involvement in public safety and enhancing SAPS human capital.
Rising through the Ranks with Integrity
Her career was marked by consistent rise through the ranks. As Superintendent upgraded to 2004, she moved up to Senior Superintendent (current Brigadier) by 2006. In 2016, she reached one of the most senior operational positions in the province – Deputy Provincial Commissioner: Support Services.
As Major General, Morakaladi had a wide-ranging portfolio that encompassed Strategic human resource management; Finances and procurement management; Supply chain and logistical operations and Management of facilities and infrastructure for all SAPS installations in Limpopo.
Her administrative skills assisted in standardising primary internal procedures and enhancing the delivery of service, while her caring and empowering leadership strategy continued.
A Legacy of Learning and Empowerment
Academically qualified, Major General Morakaladi has a National Diploma in Police Administration (Unisa); B-Tech Degree in Policing (Unisa); Certificate in Human Resources (Unisa) and Advanced Certificates in leadership, personnel investigation, and disciplinary regulations.
She blended work and motherhood, raising two children while she climbed SAPS ranks – a beacon of hope for work-life balance and determination to motivate future women officers.
A Farewell with Honour
As she prepares to retire, fellow workers across Limpopo reflect not only on her administrative capabilities but on her as a moral and emotional support base within the SAPS family.
In her own words, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, Provincial Commissioner of Limpopo: “The best way to describe Major General Morakaladi is the epitome of the South African Police Service. Her contribution goes far beyond administrative capabilities – she has been the heart of our organization, ensuring that as we focus on crime prevention, we never lose sight of the human face of policing.”
That “human dimension” has been the thread running through Major General Morakaladi’s career. From her first beat as a Constable to her final day in high command, she has exemplified dignity, accountability, and service with empathy.
As SAPS Limpopo bids farewell to “The Nurturer”, her impact will remain etched in every system she improved, every officer she mentored, and every life she touched.
