Veteran police leader Jan Scheepers appointed Limpopo’s new provincial commissioner

Acting National Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane has announced the appointment of Lieutenant General Jan Petrus Scheepers as the new Provincial Commissioner of Limpopo, effective from 1 August 2026.

Scheepers succeeds to one of the country's key provincial policing posts after a career spanning almost four decades in law enforcement, with SAPS describing him as an experienced operational commander equipped to lead crime-fighting efforts across the province.

Before joining the South African Police Service in 1988, Scheepers served in the South African National Defence Force. After completing his police training at the Tshwane Police Academy, he spent 28 years policing communities across Gauteng, gaining extensive experience in visible policing, community policing and specialised operational environments.

During a 16-year stint as a station commander, Scheepers led several police stations, including The Barrage, De Deur, Ennerdale, Lenasia South, Evaton and Orange Farm, where he managed policing operations in communities facing complex crime challenges.

His leadership trajectory continued in 2013 when he was promoted to brigadier and appointed station commander at Sebokeng Police Station. Three years later, he was elevated to major general and appointed Capricorn District Commissioner before assuming the role of Deputy Provincial Commissioner responsible for Policing in Limpopo, a position he has held for nearly a decade.

Beyond his operational experience, Scheepers has pursued extensive academic and professional development. He holds National Diplomas in Policing and Theology and is a qualified hostage and suicide negotiator, qualifications that SAPS says reflect both his operational expertise and commitment to servant leadership.

Announcing the appointment, Dimpane said Scheepers possesses an in-depth understanding of Limpopo's crime landscape, operational demands and the needs of its communities, positioning him to strengthen policing and advance the SAPS' national reset agenda aimed at improving accountability, rebuilding public trust and creating safer communities.