Lieutenant-General Jan Petrus Scheepers has been appointed as Limpopo’s new Provincial Commissioner, taking charge of a province grappling with gender-based violence, including femicide, stock theft, organised crime and cross-border criminal syndicates.
Acting National Commissioner Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane announced Scheepers’ appointment in Polokwane on Friday, saying the selection process was aimed at identifying a leader with the experience, credibility and operational competence needed to strengthen policing and drive the implementation of the South African Police Service’s (SAPS) Reset Agenda.
“Our objective was never simply to fill a vacancy, but our responsibility was to appoint a leader capable of commanding confidence, inspiring our men and women in blue, strengthening partnerships with communities and leading the fight against crime with courage, discipline and operational excellence,” Dimpane said.
“We were searching for a leader who possesses the experience, credibility, operational competence and moral authority required to lead one of South Africa’s strategically important provinces.”
Scheepers will assume office on 1 August, taking over Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, who retired at the end of June after serving as Limpopo Provincial Commissioner.
Major General Jan Scheepers has been serving as acting Provincial Commissioner since 1 July, overseeing policing in the province during the leadership transition.
Dimpane acknowledged the contribution of retired Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, saying she had left behind “a remarkable and distinguished policing legacy” in Limpopo.
“She has undoubtedly raised the standard of policing leadership in Limpopo Province and has left the organisation stronger than she found it,” Dimpane said.
Scheepers brings nearly four decades of policing experience to the position. After beginning his public service career in the South African National Defence Force, he joined SAPS in 1988 after completing his training at the Tshwane Police Academy.
He spent 28 years serving in Gauteng, where he gained extensive experience in community policing, visible policing and specialised policing.
During his early career, he served as a K9 handler responsible for patrol and explosives detection dogs before commanding several police stations, including The Barrage, De Deur, Ennerdale, Lenasia South, Evaton and Orange Farm.
In 2013, he was promoted to Brigadier and appointed Station Commander of Sebokeng Police Station.
Three years later, he was promoted to Major General and appointed District Commissioner of Capricorn District before becoming Limpopo’s Deputy Provincial Commissioner responsible for Policing, a position he held for almost a decade.
Dimpane said Scheepers’ experience made him well suited to lead policing in the province.
“He understands the crime landscape, he understands the operational environment and most importantly, he understands the people of Limpopo,” she said.
“He has earned the confidence of communities not through speeches, but through presence.”
She said Scheepers had built lasting relationships with traditional leaders and local communities by remaining visible and engaging directly with residents.
“When he enters a village, he becomes part of that village. He listens, engages, understands local realities, respects traditional leadership and builds trust.”
Scheepers holds a National Diploma in Policing, a National Diploma in Theology and is a qualified hostage and suicide negotiator.
He assumes office as Limpopo continues to face serious policing challenges.
Dimpane said rape and gender-based violence and femicide continued to devastate communities, while stock theft, organised crime, drug-related offences and violent crime required sustained operational responses.
She said Limpopo’s strategic position as one of South Africa’s gateway provinces also exposed it to illegal immigration, transnational organised crime, illicit trafficking, vehicle smuggling, cross-border criminal syndicates and other border-related offences.
Dimpane said Scheepers would lead all 106 police stations in Limpopo and would be expected to strengthen intelligence-led policing, improve detective performance, intensify operations against violent crime, confront stock theft, dismantle organised criminal syndicates and strengthen border policing through integrated law enforcement partnerships.
“The people of Limpopo are not receiving someone unfamiliar with their challenges. They are receiving a leader who has already walked alongside them,” Dimpane said.
“A leader who knows every district, who understands every policing cluster and a leader who appreciates the complexity of rural policing, border security, organised crime and community safety.”
She said Scheepers’ appointment reflected SAPS’ commitment to leadership continuity, noting that he had progressed from Deputy Provincial Commissioner to Acting Provincial Commissioner and now Provincial Commissioner.
“The SAPS Reset Agenda calls upon every commander to restore discipline, strengthen operational excellence, rebuild public trust and place ethical leadership at the centre of policing,” Dimpane said.
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Hope Ntanzi
iol.co.za
