The newly appointed Acting Provincial Police Commissioner, Major- General Jan Scheepers.
The South African Police Service in Limpopo has a new leader. Major General Jan Scheepers has been appointed as the Acting Provincial Commissioner. He takes over this important role following the retirement of Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe.
Lieutenant General Hadebe is stepping down after a long and impressive career. She served in the police force for 40 years. She is well known for being the first woman to ever hold the position of Limpopo Provincial Commissioner. Her departure marks the end of a very distinguished chapter in the history of the Limpopo police force.
Major General Scheepers is not new to the challenges of police work. He has dedicated 35 years of his life to the South African Police Service. For the last six years, he served as the Deputy Provincial Commissioner for Policing. In that role, he was responsible for crime prevention and operations. These years of experience in managing safety and police activities provide him with the right skills to take on his new responsibilities in the province.
The transition in leadership comes at a time when the community is looking for stability and effective policing. Major General Scheepers will hold the position of Acting Provincial Commissioner until further notice. He will be expected to use his deep knowledge of the province and his long history of service to continue the work of maintaining law and order.
As the province bids farewell to Lieutenant General Hadebe, many are reflecting on her legacy. She led the police service through various challenges during her time in office. Her 40 years of service set a high standard for those who follow her.
Major General Scheepers now faces the task of leading the police force forward. With his background in crime prevention, he is well-positioned to address the safety concerns of the people of Limpopo. The community and the police force will be watching closely to see how he manages this new phase of leadership. For now, the focus is on a smooth transition as the service continues its work to protect and serve the citizens of the province.
Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance in Limpopo welcomes the appointment of Major- General Jan Scheepers as the Acting Provincial Police Commissioner
*The DA calls for a further reduction in crime including the clean up of crime hotspots, prioritising the combatting of sexual offences, enhanced rural safety and improved border policing
*The DA knows Major- General Scheepers for his no-nonsense approach and his willingness to engage on challenges
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Limpopo cautiously welcomes the appointment of Major-General Jan Scheepers as Acting-Provincial Police Commissioner following Lt-Gen Thembi Hadebe’s retirement in June 2026.
Major-General Scheepers has a no-nonsense approach and is always willing to engage on challenges.
The DA calls for further reduction in crime including: Improved crime prevention in legacy hotspots such as Thohoyandou, Seshego, Polokwane and Mankweng,
The combatting of sexual offences, specifically against children,
A committed and coordinated rural safety response, and Improved border policing.
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.
The DA commends the recent and significant increase in arrests of drug traffickers in the province, which is indicative of improved intelligence and crime prevention.
During Operation Shanela in February 2026, 698 suspects were arrested across the province.
The DA congratulates Major-General Scheepers on his appointment and wishes him well in the pursuit of a safer Limpopo.