Nationwide: Operation Shanela II operations have led to the arrest of over 15,000 suspects, said the South African Police Service (SAPS).
According to South African Government News Agency, in a statement on Monday, the police reported that 15,763 suspects were arrested for various offences, including 2,133 wanted individuals who were tracked down in different parts of the country. The arrests occurred between 8 and 14 September 2025.
Among those arrested, 265 suspects were apprehended for rape, with 92 of them being previously circulated as wanted. Notably, 41 of these suspects were captured in Gauteng province. Other arrests include 160 individuals for murder, with the majority apprehended in the Western Cape (41), followed by the Eastern Cape (32) and Gauteng (30). Additionally, 143 suspects were arrested for attempted murder, while 1,610 were detained for assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH).
Over 1,000 suspects were arrested for drug dealing. Police also seized 146 unlicensed firearms and recovered 66 stolen and hijacked vehicles. In KwaZulu-Natal's South Coast, an alleged hijacking suspect was fatally wounded during a shootout with the police and private security. Police recovered a signal jammer, an unlicensed firearm, and a stolen Quantum minibus taxi.
Police arrested a 26-year-old suspect in connection with a double murder in Wallacedene, Kraaifontein, in the early hours of Sunday morning (4 September). In another incident in the Western Cape, police arrested a 24-year-old suspect who allegedly murdered a man at the Athlone Magistrates Court last week. The suspect was found admitted to a local hospital with gunshot wounds sustained during a shootout with other gang members.
The police stated that these arrests demonstrate the commitment of the men and women in blue to prevent and combat serious and violent crimes, adding that each arrest is a step closer to a safer South Africa for all.