By Abigail Visagie
After more than 35 years in policing, Free State SAPS Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Baile Motswenyane is preparing to retire at the end of January 2026, leaving behind a legacy of historic firsts, institutional reforms and debate over crime-fighting outcomes in the province.
Motswenyane made history as the first woman in South Africa to be appointed an area commander. She later led policing in the North West province and served in several critical operational and support roles. In the Free State, she oversaw policing operations across 112 police stations.
Her tenure not only shaped policing strategies in the province but also inspired many men and women in blue to serve their communities with dedication and commitment in pursuit of a safer Free State.
Under her leadership, National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola, together with various dignitaries, paid tribute and expressed condolences to the families of fallen constables Cebekhulu Linda, Keamogetswe Buys and Boipelo Senoge, who tragically lost their lives in a car crash at the Hennops River in 2025.
Motswenyane also ensured that acts of bravery did not go unnoticed. Constable Macdonald Motete, who risked his life to save his wife and four children during a house fire in August 2024, was handed a fully furnished home after losing his own in the blaze.
Among her many achievements, the commissioner presided over the opening of the Sonskyn Police Station — the first police station established in the province in decades. She also introduced a schools drilling competition, which attracted enthusiastic participation from learners and enhanced police visibility within the education sector.
Recently, Motswenyane unveiled a Wall of Remembrance for fallen heroes and heroines at the Parkweg Police Station. Expressing pride in the milestone, she said the wall was a reminder that those who died in service did not do so in vain.
“This wall must remind us that these fallen heroes lived and did not go in vain. Continue to fight crime and make South Africa safe,” said Motswenyane.
However, her legacy has drawn mixed reactions from political leaders.
Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Free State deputy chairperson Thomas Macingwane criticised her tenure, citing continued police station robberies, theft of firearms, lack of discipline and instability within the force.
“Under her term of office, we saw a continuation of police station break-ins where guns were stolen and later used in crimes. There was also a lack of discipline among members and overall instability,” said Macingwane.
He further criticised what he described as SAPS’s silence on drug abuse in the province.
“In Bloemfontein, Virginia, Welkom, Hoopstad, Kutlwanong, Kroonstad and Steynsrus, drug dealers operate openly near school gates and are known to SAPS. Yet there are no visible SAPS-led campaigns to combat drug abuse,” he said.
Macingwane alleged that requests by the EFF in Matjhabeng for police assistance in schools to address substance abuse were refused, raising concerns about policing priorities. He called for improved visibility, discipline and leadership stability within SAPS.
Democratic Alliance (DA) Free State leader Roy Jankielsohn, meanwhile, commended Motswenyane and her team for conducting successful roadblocks and operations during the 2025 festive season. However, he warned that crime remains under-reported due to weaknesses in the criminal justice system.
“Stock theft and cross-border crimes remain a crisis in rural communities but are under-reported because of low conviction rates. Rape and gender-based violence are also significantly under-reported due to an unsupportive system,” said Jankielsohn.
He further noted the growing reliance on private security, arguing that it reflects an under-resourced SAPS rather than policing success.
“The spread of drugs in rural communities, particularly by foreign nationals, and the reluctance to enforce the law where sources are known, undermines the social fabric of the province and public trust in SAPS,” he added.
Jankielsohn acknowledged that while many SAPS members perform their duties with integrity, corruption among some officers damages the reputation of the service.
He declined to comment on whether Deputy Provincial Commissioners Generals Solly Lesia and Arthur Peter Adams would be suitable successors. However, Macingwane argued that the post should be opened to other credible officers outside the current leadership.
Lieutenant General Baile Motswenyane will officially retire at the end of January 2026. Before her departure, the province will host National Police Day and the SAPS Excellence Awards, both to be presided over by Motswenyane.
