Pretoria: The South African Police Service (SAPS) has successfully arrested 16,718 suspects in a significant nationwide crackdown termed Operation Shanela, which occurred from January 6 to January 12, 2025. The operation targeted a broad range of criminal activities across the country, demonstrating SAPS’s commitment to combating crime through strategic enforcement measures.
According to South African Government News Agency, Operation Shanela involved a comprehensive array of crime-fighting activities, including tracking operations, roadblocks, high-visibility patrols, stop and searches, and the tracing of wanted suspects. These operations were spearheaded by the Provincial Commissioner of each province, underscoring a coordinated effort to enhance public safety.
The crackdown yielded significant arrests, including 2,907 wanted suspects apprehended for serious and violent crimes such as murder, attempted murder, rape, and robberies. Notably, 122 individuals were arrested for murder, with Gauteng leading in arrests, followed by the Eastern Cape. Additionally, 112 suspects faced charges of attempted murder, and 223 were arrested for rape, with KwaZulu-Natal accounting for the majority.
SAPS reported the arrest of 1,845 individuals for assault with grievous bodily harm, and 835 drug dealers were apprehended. The operation also saw 2,282 arrests for drug possession, predominantly in the Western Cape, and 129 suspects were detained for illegal firearm possession, mainly in KwaZulu-Natal.
The operation further led to the detention of 1,341 illegal foreign nationals and 419 drivers for drunken driving, with Gauteng recording the highest number of arrests.
In addition to these arrests, police made notable advances in crime prevention, confiscating 129 firearms, 1,129 rounds of ammunition, and recovering 65 hijacked or stolen vehicles. The arrest of a 39-year-old man in Mpumalanga, following a fatal shooting incident outside a tavern, highlighted these successes. The suspect, found with a pistol and ammunition, is set to appear in court.
In Limpopo, eight individuals, including a councillor, were apprehended for extortion at a construction site, while a joint operation in Sandringham led to the arrest of three Ethiopian nationals involved in human trafficking and related crimes. This operation also resulted in the rescue of 26 Ethiopian nationals held captive.
Operation Vala Umgodi task teams continue to make strides, with recent arrests of 62 individuals for illegal mining, primarily in the Free State. A collaborative effort by Northern Cape Crime Intelligence and other agencies led to the arrest of a suspect in Potchefstroom for business robbery, with a seized pistol.
Furthermore, Mpumalanga police arrested three men linked to a taxi conflict-related shooting, seizing four firearms. These suspects face multiple charges, illustrating the ongoing efforts to uphold law and order.
The SAPS reiterated its commitment to enforcing state authority to ensure the safety and security of all South Africans and visitors.