Eleven insignias, eleven careers and one clear message: the Department of Correctional Services is closing its leadership gaps with speed and purpose. On 3 November 2026, National Commissioner, Mr Makgothi Thobakgale pinned insignias on eleven newly appointed senior managers, appointments he said address the vacuum left by an exodus of managers who recently took early retirement.
“We are welcoming eleven newly appointed senior managers. It is a significant day for us because the appointments are in different categories, including Deputy Commissioners at the level of Deputy Regional Commissioners. This means the Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and North West; Western Cape, and Free State and Northern Cape regions now have Deputy Regional Commissioners,” he said.
The new incumbents for Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and North West; Western Cape; and Free State and Northern Cape had been acting in their new roles.
“Now that we have appointed these critical posts, we expect a great return on investment. All appointments are important and critical. However, we welcome area commissioners at the level of deputy commissioner, including the Area Commissioner for the Durban Management Area. It is one of the top five management areas in terms of size, profile, the type of incarceration, corrections and rehabilitation programmes it runs, and its population,” explained National Commissioner Thobakgale.
The National Commissioner added that appointing the Area Commissioner for the Durban Management Area is an important addition to stabilising the management area.
“Furthermore, we have other area commissioners appointed at the level of Director in the Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and the Free State and Northern Cape. What is important with these appointments is that we are now seeing natural attrition at the senior management service level in the department. At the same time, the department is agile in ensuring that recruitment processes start on time and conclude timeously,” he explained.
National Commissioner Thobakgale said that the department had to move at the desired speed to fill vacancies with qualified and experienced candidates.
“When a senior manager is about to retire, perhaps with three months left, we advertise the post. We view that as being proactive. The organisation does not have to wait and then try to fill the position long after it becomes vacant. We are trying to bridge that gap so that we do not have a vacuum between retirement and continuity,” he said.
He further noted the appointment of female senior managers to these levels of service. “More than five females have been appointed out of the eleven. That also shows that, as a department, we are committed to addressing gender equity at all levels.”
The appointments are as follows:
- Jacqueline Reid – Deputy Regional Commissioner: Free State and Northern Cape Region
- Ernest Sono – Deputy Regional Commissioner: Limpopo, Mpumalanga and North West Region
- Gertruida Pretorius – Deputy Regional Commissioner: Western Cape Region
- Ladi Kekana – Deputy Commissioner: Area Commissioner, Durban Management Area, KwaZulu-Natal Region
- Paul Nkabinde – Director: Area Commissioner, Kroonstad Management Area, Free State and Northern Cape Region
- Maleke Tshehla – Director: Area Commissioner, Zonderwater Management Area, Gauteng Region
- Jacobus Erwee – Director: Area Commissioner, Ncome Management Area, KwaZulu-Natal Region
- Deneese Padayachee – Director: Area Commissioner, Voorberg Management Area, Western Cape Region
- Lithakazi Hlazo – Director: Area Commissioner, Breede River Management Area, Western Cape Region
- Rudzani Muedi – Director: Area Commissioner, Barberton Management Area, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and North West Region
- Francois Simons – Director: Area Commissioner, Kirkwood Management Area, Eastern Cape Region