SAPS set to name new North West provincial commissioner

Acting National Commissioner Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane is expected to announce a new Provincial Commissioner for the North West, IOL reports. The announcement is due to be made in Mahikeng alongside North West Premier Lazarus Mokgosi and MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management Wessels Morweng.

Vacancy to be filled after 2024 retirement

According to IOL, the appointment will fill the vacancy left by the retirement of former North West Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Sello Kwena in December 2024. The announcement is also set to end the acting tenure of Major General Dr Ryno Naidoo, who has overseen policing in the province since then.

Part of wider round of provincial appointments

IOL reports the North West appointment follows the announcement of Lieutenant-General Sizakhele Dyantyi as Western Cape Provincial Commissioner earlier this week. The North West announcement is expected to be followed by announcements of new provincial commissioners for Limpopo and Mpumalanga, completing the appointment of four provincial commissioners this week, IOL says.

Police leadership and the appointment process

IOL quoted Acting National Commissioner Dimpane describing the selection of provincial commissioners as more than an administrative act. She said the process reflects a responsibility to ensure policing leadership is responsive to each province’s security and public safety needs and that the selection had been:

“rigorous, transparent and consultative”

Earlier in the week, IOL reports, SAPS said the appointments form part of its organisational renewal programme to strengthen leadership across the police service and support the SAPS Reset Agenda.