Limpopo Department of Transport and Community Safety

17/09/2026

MEC KEKANA LEADS HISTORIC CONFERMENT OF RANKS - WOMEN TAKE LEAD AT MANENU COLLEGE

Manenu Traffic College, Vhembe - 17 September 2026 - In a powerful affirmation of Government's commitment to Women's emancipation, MEC for Transport and Community Safety Ms Nakedi Kekana led the conferment of ranks for 53 Traffic Officers today, with women in the majority - 34 female and 19 male officers.

The ceremony at Manenu Traffic College, presided over by MEC Kekana, accompanied by Head of Department Mr Stephen Matjena and Chief Director for Transport Regulations Mr Allen Matsila, saw 49 officers elevated to Senior Provincial Inspector, 1 to Principal Provincial Inspector, 2 to Chief Provincial Inspector and 1 to Control Provincial Inspector.

MEC Kekana said the milestone - 64% women - is no coincidence but a deliberate stride towards transforming law enforcement leadership.

"Our responsibility is bigger than traffic regulations, it is to protect human lives," she said.

She also paid tribute to Vhembe traffic officers who recently refused a bribe and arrested suspects illegally transporting medicine, calling them "beacons of integrity."

Charging the newly ranked officers, MEC Kekana said: "Wear your new ranks with pride, but carry them with humility. Lead with courage, serve with integrity, enforce with fairness, treat people with dignity and stand firm when circumstances become difficult. Today we congratulate you, tomorrow the work continues. Rise and become role models."

16/09/2026

MEC KEKANA CONTINUES STAFF ENGAGEMENTS WITH SEKHUKHUNE AND CAPRICORN

MEC for Transport and Community Safety, Ms Nakedi Kekana, today continued her official staff meet and greet sessions at the Lebowakgomo Civic Centre in Lepelle-Nkumpi Local Municipality, accompanied by Chief Director responsible for Transport Regulations, Mr Allen Matsila, where she met with the Sekhukhune and Capricorn District staff of the DTCS.

Having already met her Head Office family and her Vhembe boots on the ground, the MEC carried the same purposeful rhythm to these two districts, listening intently, greeting warmly, and laying down marching orders that inspire both pride and accountability.

Echoing her words from Phamoko Towers and Thohoyandou, MEC Kekana once again urged officials to refrain from fraudulent activities, to pull up their socks and continue with the good work that has delivered consecutive clean audit outcomes. She emphasized that the clean audit culture must be jealously guarded, and further highlighted that employment equity should be seriously considered when filling vacant posts to ensure a fair and representative public service. The team was visibly happy to meet the MEC, receiving her with excitement and reaffirming their readiness to work with her to move the Department and Limpopo forward, together.

16/09/2026

MEDIA ADVISORY
OFFICE OF THE MEC: TRANSPORT AND COMMUNITY SAFETY

To: All Media
Tuesday, 16 September 2026

MEC KEKANA TO LEAD CONFERMENT OF RANKS CEREMONY FOR 53 TRAFFIC OFFICERS

POLOKWANE: The MEC for Transport and Community Safety, Ms. Nakedi Kekana, will on Thursday, 17 September 2026, lead the Conferment of Ranks Ceremony for 53 Traffic Officers who have been appointed to senior positions.

The ceremony will be held at the Manenu Traffic College in Vhembe District at 11h00 and will be presided over by the MEC, accompanied by the Head of Department and the Chief Director for Transport Regulations.

Through her authority, the MEC will formally confirm the appointment of the officers to senior positions through the recognition and affirmation of rank insignia relevant to their new positions.

A total of 53 officers will be conferred, comprising:

- Senior Provincial Inspector (SPI) = 49
- Principal Provincial Inspector (PPI) = 1
- Chief Provincial Inspector (CPI) = 2
- Control Provincial Inspector = 1

Of the 53 officers, 34 are female and 19 are male - a clear demonstration of women empowerment in law enforcement.

The conferment of ranks is a significant milestone that recognises dedication, discipline and meritorious service in ensuring safety on our roads.

The ceremony is scheduled as follows:

Date: Thursday, 17 September 2026
Time: 11h00
Venue: Traffic Training College
Presided by: MEC Nakedi Kekana, HOD and Chief Director

Members of the media are invited.

END

For enquiries, please contact:

Mr. Tshifiwa Dali
MEC's Media Liaison
Contact: 082 904 0262
or
Ms. Mashudu Mabata
Departmental Spokesperson
Contact: 083 809 8132

16/09/2026

MEDIA STATEMENT
OFFICE OF THE MEC: TRANSPORT AND COMMUNITY SAFETY

To: All Media
Wednesday, 16 September 2026

MEC KEKANA COMMENDS TWO TRAFFIC OFFICERS FOR INTEGRITY AND ZERO TOLERANCE TO CORRUPTION IN VHEMBE

*POLOKWANE:* The MEC for Transport and Community Safety, Ms. Nakedi Kekana, has commended two Provincial Inspectors, Inspector Khubana and Inspector Nwendamutswu, for their dedication, integrity and commitment to the rule of law.

The two officers were conducting a stop and check operation in the Masisi area, Vhembe District, when they intercepted a vehicle transporting medicine without a pharmaceutical license/certificate. On board were two Zimbabwean nationals and two South Africans.

The suspects were immediately handed over to the Malamulele Police Station where a case was registered .

In an attempt to evade arrest, the suspects offered the two officers a R100 000 bribe to release them. The officers stood firm, applied zero tolerance to corruption, and effected an additional arrest for bribery.

"The actions of Inspector Khubana and Inspector Nwendamutswu resonate deeply with the message I shared with the employees of Vhembe District on Tuesday afternoon, that I will always support and defend employees who are loyal to the Provincial Government and, most importantly, to the people of Limpopo," said MEC Kekana.

"These officers are a shining example of what it means to serve with loyalty and integrity. They chose the people of Limpopo over personal enrichment. We need more public servants like them. They have proven that our Traffic Officers can be trusted to be the first line of defence against crime and corruption on our roads."

MEC Kekana further warned that transporting medicine without a pharmaceutical certificate poses a serious risk to the health and safety of communities and will not be tolerated.

The MEC will be engaging the Provincial Commissioner to ensure that the officers are duly recognised for their outstanding work.

END

For enquiries, please contact:

Mr. Tshifiwa Dali
MEC's Media Liaison
Contact: 082 904 0262

or

Ms. Mashudu Mabata
Departmental Spokesperson
Contact: 083 809 8132

15/09/2026

MEDIA STATEMENT
OFFICE OF THE MEC: TRANSPORT AND COMMUNITY SAFETY

To: All Media
Monday, 15 September 2026

MEC KEKANA COMMENDS SAPS FOR SWIFT ARREST OF MANKWENG MURDER SUSPECT AND CALLS FOR INTENSIFIED MANHUNT FOR MALEBOHO R**E SUSPECT

POLOKWANE: The MEC for Transport and Community Safety in Limpopo, Ms. Nakedi Kekana, has commended the South African Police Service in Limpopo led by Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Jan Scheepers for the swift arrest of a 44-year-old murder suspect, Thomas Mahlo.

Mahlo appeared before the Mankweng Magistrate's Court on Monday, 14 September 2026, facing a charge of murder after he allegedly brutally killed his 37-year-old girlfriend, a security officer at the University of Limpopo, on Saturday 12 September 2026. The court remanded him in custody until 13 October 2026 for a formal bail application.

MEC Kekana says the speedy arrest sends a strong message that Limpopo has no place for those who abuse and kill women.

"We welcome the swift work by the SAPS. The brutal killing of women in our country has reached alarming levels and we cannot afford to be complacent. As the Department responsible for Community Safety, we urge the SAPS to continue working around the clock to make Limpopo safe and to ensure that perpetrators of Gender-Based Violence face the full might of the law," said MEC Kekana.

She further conveyed her condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of the deceased at the University of Limpopo.

On a separate matter, MEC Kekana has also called on Lieutenant General Scheepers and his team to deploy the best team to track and arrest a r**e suspect who is still at large in Makaepea village.

The case is registered at Maleboho Police Station, Capricorn District, and occurred on 21 August 2026. According to information provided by Warrant Officer Lefowa of Senwabarwana SAPS, a 14-year-old boy alleges that he found a male known suspect, aged approximately 30 and residing in the same village, busy ra**ng his 7-year-old mentally challenged sister in nearby bushes. After the suspect noticed him, he ran away. The boy then went to a nearby house and, with the assistance of other community members, took the child to hospital and the police were called. A case of r**e was opened. The suspect has since been on the run.

"This is an act of pure evil. The r**e of a 7-year-old mentally challenged child must shock all of us. I am calling on Lieutenant General Scheepers to deploy the best detectives to ensure this perpetrator is arrested and faces the full might of the law," said MEC Kekana.

MEC Kekana has called on communities to work with law enforcement agencies, to report cases of domestic violence before they escalate to murder, and to provide any information that may lead to the arrest of the Maleboho suspect.

END

For enquiries, please contact:

Mr. Tshifiwa Dali
MEC's Media Liaison
Contact: 082 904 0262

or

Ms. Mashudu Mabata
Departmental Spokesperson
Contact: 083 809 8132

15/09/2026

MEC KEKANA TAKES MEET AND GREET TO VHEMBE DISTRICT

After a warm and purposeful engagement with Head Office staff at Phamoko Towers this morning, MEC for Transport and Community Safety, Ms Nakedi Kekana, together with Head of Department Mr Stephen Matjena, proceeded to Thohoyandou where they met Vhembe District officials at the Christian Worship Centre International. Continuing her stride of hitting the ground running, the MEC took time to meet her boots on the ground in Vhembe, the hands that carry services to our most remote communities. It was an extension of a journey that will see her visit all districts to say hello, to listen, and to give marching orders for the road ahead.

The Vhembe staff was visibly excited to meet the MEC, lighting up the hall with warm ululation and heartfelt appreciation for the visit. In her address, MEC Kekana continued to motivate employees to keep up the good work, to remain steadfast in integrity and to refrain from any fraudulent activities that could tarnish the Department’s hard-earned name. She once again applauded the culture of clean audits and urged officials to guard it jealously, to work even harder and never drop the ball. Tomorrow, the MEC will proceed to Capricorn and Sekhukhune Districts as the meet-and-greet caravan continues to move Limpopo forward, together.

15/09/2026

MEDIA STATEMENT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MEC KEKANA WELCOMES MORE ARRESTS IN MARBLE HALL LICENSING FRAUD

15 September 2026 - The MEC for Transport and Community Safety, Ms Nakedi Kekana, has welcomed the arrest of eight suspects linked to the "cash-for-driver's licence" scheme at the Marble Hall DLTC in Ephraim Mogale Municipality.

The eight appeared before the Groblersdal Magistrate Court on Monday, 14 September 2026, following a joint operation by the SIU, SAPS Crime Intelligence and Sekhukhune District Tactical Team. They face charges of fraud and corruption and will remain in custody until 21 September 2026 for bail application and verification of records.

MEC Kekana commended law enforcement for the decisive action and warned that the clean-up of licensing centres across municipalities will be intensified.

"We will not allow corruption in our DLTCs. Selling a licence is selling death on our roads. It undermines road safety and tarnishes the hard work of honest officials who earned this Department two consecutive clean audits," said MEC Kekana.

Speaking to employees of the Department during her meet-and-greet sessions at Head Office and in Vhembe since her appointment on 2 September, MEC Kekana made her stance clear:

"I expect discipline, professionalism and loyalty to the government and to the people of Limpopo. I will defend officials who work hard and serve the public with dignity and integrity. I will not defend laziness and corruption."

Any official found guilty will face both criminal prosecution and internal disciplinary action. Driving schools acting as middlemen will also be dealt with.

END

Enquiries:
Mr. Tshifiwa Dali: 082 904 0262
Ms. Mashudu Mabata: 083 809 8132

15/09/2026

*WATCH: MEC NAKEDI KEKANA'S FIRST ADDRESS TO THE DEPARTMENT*

This morning, MEC for Transport and Community Safety Ms. Nakedi Kekana held her first official engagement with staff of the Department.

She applauded her predecessor Ms Violet Mathye and congratulated the entire team led by HOD Mr Matjena for achieving two consecutive Clean Audits - proof that she has joined a capable Department, not a broken one.

However, she emphasized that a clean audit is not the destination. Communities judge government by service on the ground - licences issued on time, peaceful public transport, safe roads and safe communities.

Her central mandate is clear: *ACCELERATE SERVICE DELIVERY.*

She raised concerns about congested office conditions and the need for real women empowerment and career progression, and instructed management to cut bureaucracy, fill critical vacancies and become visible in all districts.

Limpopo is waiting.

15/09/2026

MEC NAKEDI KEKANA MEETS DTCS HEAD OFFICE STAFF AT PHAMOKO TOWERS

This morning, MEC for Transport and Community Safety, Ms Nakedi Kekana, met with DTCS Head Office staff at Phamoko Towers in Polokwane as part of her scheduled meet and greet sessions with employees. Having already hit the ground running since assuming office, the MEC is now taking time to officially meet her boots on the ground, the dedicated officials who carry the mandate daily. She will be visiting all districts to say hello, to listen, and to give marching orders that will anchor the Department’s service delivery journey.

Addressing the staff, MEC Kekana applauded and thanked employees for the consecutive clean audit outcomes, a testament to discipline, teamwork and accountability. She stimulated them not to drop the ball but to continue working hard, to guard good governance jealously and to let excellence remain their signature. It was a warm yet purposeful encounter: a leader meeting her people, and people resserting their commitment to move Limpopo forward, together.

14/09/2026