Johannesburg: The South African Police Service (SAPS) continues to implement its nationwide crime prevention and combating operations, resulting in the arrests of 16,648 suspects for various offences in recent days.
According to South African Government News Agency, crime-fighting interventions conducted between 09 and 15 March 2026 yielded successes across multiple provinces. These operations included tracking down and apprehending 2,048 wanted individuals linked to murder, attempted murder, carjacking, rape, assault grievous bodily harm (GBH), and house and business robberies.
Among these arrests is a suspected gunman who allegedly shot and killed Marius Van Der Merwe, a key witness in the Madlanga Commission of inquiry, in Johannesburg on 14 March 2026. The police team seized the vehicle allegedly used in the commission of the crime.
In dismantling an insurance murder-for-payout syndicate, police arrested six more suspects on 10 March 2026. The suspects are linked to a R10 million insurance scam led by the alleged mastermind, former police officer Rachel Kutumela. The arrests included relatives of Kutumela and a sangoma. A seventh suspect, Rachel Kutumela's brother, Robert Shokane, handed himself over to the police, bringing the total number of arrests to 11.
During these operations, SAPS struck a blow against the illicit trade affecting the economy. Police seized large quantities of illicit cigarettes worth an estimated R25 million during a raid at a warehouse in the Nirvana area, Polokwane, and arrested a 39-year-old Indian national believed to be the facility manager. Furthermore, 14 suspects were arrested for possession of illegal cigarettes.
Meanwhile, counterfeit goods worth R80 million were confiscated in a two-day operation in Musina and Thohoyandou in Limpopo. Law enforcement raided 33 shops and seized 171,418 counterfeit items, including clothing, shoes, jewellery, and consumables.
Other arrests include 137 suspects for murder, 125 for attempted murder, and 121 for rape, with the majority of rape arrests made in Gauteng. Additionally, 1,586 suspects were arrested for assault (GBH), while 642 individuals were nabbed for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Police also seized 194 unlicensed firearms and 3,888 rounds of ammunition.