POLOKWANE – The DA in Limpopo is among the latest to express high expectations for Lieutenant General Jan Petrus Scheepers following his official announcement today as the new Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Limpopo.

The appointment was made by Acting National Commissioner Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane at the Premier’s Office in Polokwane. Lt Gen Scheepers will officially assume duty on August 1, succeeding Lt Gen Thembi Hadebe, who retired in June.

Scheepers served as acting provincial commissioner in recent weeks and was deputy provincial commissioner in the rank of Major General.

DA welcomes appointment

The DA Provincial Spokesperson on Transport and Community Safety, Adv Franco Marx, said the party welcomes the appointment.

“Major-General Scheepers has served in the SAPS with distinction for 35 years and was the Deputy Provincial Police Commissioner for six years, during which he was responsible for crime prevention operations,” Marx said. “Major-General Scheepers has a no-nonsense approach and is always willing to engage on challenges.”

The DA called for a reduction in crime with specific focus on:

• Improved crime prevention in legacy hotspots such as Thohoyandou, Seshego, Polokwane and Mankweng
• Combatting sexual offences specifically against children
• A committed and coordinated rural safety response
• Improved border policing

“Limpopo is a vast rural province which brings about many challenges in the effective prevention of crime to ensure the safety of our communities,” Marx said. “Residents in Limpopo need visible policing, professional investigations, and strong local partnerships to combat high-risk crimes like gender-based violence, burglary, and stock theft.”

Premier: ‘The hopes of 6.2 million people rest on your shoulders’

Premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba, speaking at the same announcement, told Lt Gen Scheepers that the hopes of more than 6.2 million people who call Limpopo home now rest on his shoulders.

She described the new role as “a monumental honour” but “an even greater burden of responsibility” and said the appointment was “a deliberate, bruising ascent up a mountain of formidable gravity”.

“This new mantle you assume is not a soft garment woven for ease, but a suit of armour forged in the fires of sleepless devotion and relentless trial,” the Premier said. “Do not look upon the jagged terrain ahead with anxiety, for the steepest cliffs yield the most magnificent views of human potential.”

A direct challenge

Ramathuba was direct about the challenges facing the police, noting that the service “has found itself in the public domain for many wrong reasons” due to corruption, syndicates and alleged underworld dealings.

“We are not here to judge you by past public opinions. We are here to support you. However, to erase those stains, you will need to work three times harder alongside your team to reclaim the trust of our communities,” she said.

The Premier challenged the new commissioner to turn Limpopo into “a beacon of policing excellence – a place where other provinces will travel to benchmark”.

She listed gender-based violence, rape, serial assaults, commercial crimes and mob justice as urgent priorities. While acknowledging an encouraging drop in murder cases, she said communities must never feel the need to take the law into their own hands.

“Let the criminal underworld receive the message loud and clear today: under your leadership, criminals must think twice before breaking the law in Limpopo,” she said.

A career of nearly four decades

Lt Gen Scheepers brings nearly four decades of service to the role. He served 28 years in Gauteng, commanded stations including Sebokeng and Orange Farm, was promoted to Brigadier in 2013 and to Major General in 2016, and has served as Deputy Provincial Commissioner for Policing in Limpopo for almost a decade.

He holds a National Diploma in Policing and a National Diploma in Theology, and is a qualified hostage and suicide negotiator.

In his acceptance, Lt Gen Scheepers said, “We are going to change this province, but we cannot do it alone.”

The Provincial Government pledged full resources and political support to enable the new commissioner to carry out his mandate.

The DA said it stands ready to work with police to ensure safer communities in Limpopo.