Cape Town – Newly appointed Limpopo Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Jan Scheepers has pledged to intensify the fight against corruption within the South African Police Service (SAPS), warning dishonest officers that they should prepare to exchange their blue uniforms for orange prison overalls.
Scheepers made the remarks as he officially assumed office as Limpopo’s Provincial Commissioner on Saturday, 1 August 2026, following a successful tenure as acting provincial commissioner.
The provincial commissioner said restoring public confidence in the police begins with eliminating criminality from within the ranks of the service.
“The public deserves a police service they can trust. There will be no room for corruption, poor service delivery, misconduct or any behaviour that undermines the integrity of the South African Police Service,” Scheepers said.
He warned corrupt police officers that they should “prepare to swap their blue uniforms for orange overalls”, making it clear that officers who betray their oath would face the full might of the law.
Newly appointed Limpopo Police Commissioner Jan Scheepers has vowed to crack down on corruption within the SAPS and warned corrupt officers to prepare to swap their blue uniforms for orange overalls. He says restoring public trust starts with rooting out criminality from within… pic.twitter.com/wgnA4nzwAw
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) July 31, 2026
“I’ve got a very strong feeling toward corruption and police involvement in crime. And I said it very clearly today that we are not going to tolerate that. The community currently does not trust the police and I think the Madlanga Commission put a spotlight on the Corruption and the conniving with crinminals from within SAPS,” said Scheepers.
“And the only way for us as the police service to allow the community to trust us again is to actively deal with corruption and crime within our own ranks.”
Scheepers directed all SAPS members to uphold the highest standards of professionalism, discipline, accountability and ethical conduct while delivering quality policing services to communities across the province.
His appointment was announced by National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola, who confirmed that Scheepers takes over the highest policing office in Limpopo after an illustrious 38-year career in law enforcement.
Scheepers began his public service career in the South African National Defence Force before joining SAPS in 1988 after completing his training at the Tshwane Police Academy.
Over nearly four decades, he built extensive operational experience in community policing, visible policing and specialised policing units, serving in some of Gauteng’s most demanding policing environments, including Sebokeng, Orange Farm, Lenasia South, Vanderbijlpark and Ennerdale. He also served in the Dog Patrol and K9 Unit before rising through the ranks.
He commanded police stations for 16 years before being promoted to brigadier in 2013 as station commander of Sebokeng Police Station. In 2016, he was promoted to major general and appointed Capricorn District Commissioner in Limpopo before becoming Deputy Provincial Commissioner: Policing in 2017, where he led province-wide crime-fighting operations for almost a decade.
Scheepers also holds a National Diploma in Police Administration and received specialised training from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) as a hostage and suicide negotiator.
His appointment comes as SAPS advances its Reset Agenda, aimed at strengthening accountability, rebuilding public confidence and creating safer communities through ethical leadership and decisive policing.
Ambitious policing programme
Accepting the appointment, Scheepers described it as “a great honour and privilege” to serve the people of Limpopo.
“I pledge to work closely with government, municipalities, traditional leaders, Community Policing Forums, law enforcement partners, civil society and the people of Limpopo to restore confidence in the South African Police Service and create safer communities,” he said.
He outlined an ambitious policing programme focused on intensifying the fight against violent crime, strengthening intelligence-led policing, improving service delivery, supporting victims of crime, enhancing police visibility and deepening partnerships with communities.
Limpopo Premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba welcomed the appointment, describing the role of provincial commissioner as “not a soft seat, but a suit of armour in the fight against crime.”
She reminded Scheepers that he is responsible for the safety and security of more than 6.5 million Limpopo residents and called on him to provide decisive and ethical leadership to restore public confidence in SAPS.
Ramathuba also reaffirmed the provincial government’s commitment to supporting SAPS through integrated crime-fighting initiatives, including Operation Shanela, Operation Retsepeng and other collaborative operations aimed at combating crime and improving safety across the province.
Scheepers said public trust in law enforcement can only be rebuilt if police officers uphold the law and are held accountable when they break it, signalling a zero-tolerance approach to corruption and misconduct within the police service.
His warning marks the beginning of what is expected to be a tougher stance against rogue officers as SAPS seeks to reinforce integrity within its ranks while improving public safety and confidence in policing across Limpopo.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
