LIMPOPO – Newly appointed provincial police commissioner Lieutenant General Jan Scheepers has warned police officers involved in corruption that they risk swapping their blue uniforms for orange ones if they are caught.

Scheepers issued the warning on Saturday during an imbizo at Thomo Community Hall in Giyani, where residents and community leaders raised concerns about police conduct, poor service delivery and alleged failures to investigate cases.

Madlanga Commission highlights mistrust

He acknowledged that the relationship between the police and communities had deteriorated, saying the findings of the Madlanga Commission had highlighted a serious lack of public trust in the police.

“The Madlanga Commission has shown us that the community does not trust the police anymore,” Scheepers said.

He said the SAPS was committed to correcting its shortcomings and called on communities to play an active role in improving policing.

“We’re here to listen and tell you that we’re committed to correcting the wrongs and making things right,” he said.

Spaza shop corruption allegations raised

Scheepers said complaints about police corruption, including allegations that officers were targeting spaza shops for money, could not be ignored.

“I know some of your frustrations include that some of our members in uniform are corrupt and that some torment spaza shops just to get money,” he said.

He urged residents to work with the police and government to tackle crime and corruption, saying successful crime prevention requires cooperation between communities and authorities.

“Let us decide today, in the presence of the deputy minister, that we’re going to change those members who are involved in crime; that we’re going to change blue uniforms for orange uniforms. But we cannot do it alone without your help,” he said.

Poor service “no longer tolerated”

Scheepers also warned police officers that poor service at police stations would no longer be tolerated.

“The days when you used to walk into a police station and find a member sitting behind the desk on their cellphone or eating their food in your presence without even greeting you are over,” he said, drawing applause from community members.

He urged residents to report poor service and cases where police failed to investigate dockets.

“Stand up and let your voice be heard. Do not keep quiet. If you open a docket and you see no movement, let your voice be heard, and I promise you there will be consequences,” he said.

Community involvement key, says Scheepers

Scheepers said residents who remained silent about poor policing risked becoming part of the problem. He said Limpopo could become a safer place if police and communities worked together.

“Limpopo is our home. It is the place we chose to live in, to take care of our children, to see women walking freely in the streets, a place where we feel safe. But that can happen only with your involvement,” he said.