By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The South African Police Services (SAPS) has announced the new Provincial Commissioners for Limpopo and Mpumalanga, completing a week of senior leadership appointments.
The appointments follows the announcement of Lieutenant General Sizakhele Dyantyi as Western Cape Provincial Commissioner on Wednesday and Lieutenant General Arthur Peter Adams as North West Provincial Commissioner on Thursday.
This comes as Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia announced the implementation of the Police Reset Agenda, with 140 high-crime police station precincts identified as priority sites for intervention.
The agenda is part of a nationwide effort to restore public confidence in the SAPS.
The appointments also comes at a time when allegations of rot, corruption and interference in the police and the criminal justice system take centre stage at the Madlanga commission of Inquiry.
Acting National Police Commissioner General Puleng Dimpane completed a week of appointments by naming major General Jan Scheepers in Limpopo and Lieutenant General Aphaphia Modise as Mpumalanga provincial commissioner on Friday.
Scheepers, who becomes the province’s 10th police commissioner, brings nearly four decades of policing experience to the role. He takes over from the retired Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, whose term ended last month.
Scheepers vowed to restore public trust in policing and ensure that police stations become safe, accessible spaces for communities seeking help and support.
Dimpane highlighted Limpopo’s strategic position as a key gateway province, saying it requires a leader with experience, credibility, operational competence and moral authority.
She noted that the province’s extensive borders and major transport corridors create economic opportunities, but also expose it to serious crime threats such as illegal immigration, transnational organised crime, vehicle trafficking and cross-border syndicates.
Dimpane also praised Modise’s extensive experience within the SAPS.
Her previous roles include serving as Deputy Provincial Commissioner for Crime Detection, Acting Provincial Commissioner in the Free State, and Welkom Cluster Commander.
Modise takes over from Major-General (Dr) Zeph Mkhwanazi, who is retiring after four decades of service in the police.
You literally kept your boots on until your last day in uniform. On behalf of the leadership of the South African police service and the people of South Africa, we thank you for your service and excellence,” said Dimpane.
Modise pledged to dedicate herself fully to serving the people of Mpumalanga, assuring provincial leadership that she would relocate and commit the remainder of her policing career to the province.
In announcing the appointments this week, Dimpane said the incoming commissioners would be expected to strengthen leadership, improve operational readiness, reinforce discipline and the accountability, and deepen partnerships with communities in the fight against crime.