Operation Shanela, the high-density operation carried out by the South African Police Service (SAPS) has arrested 16 718 suspects between Monday, 06 January 2025, and Sunday, 12 January 2025. Operation Shanela remains “a bold and decisive approach” to crime-fighting, involving tracing operations, roadblocks, high-visibility patrols, stop-and-searches, and the tracking of wanted suspects. Each operation is led by the Provincial Commissioner of the respective province.

In the past week alone, SAPS made significant arrests, including 2 907 wanted suspects, many of whom were sought for serious crimes such as murder, attempted murder, rape, and robbery. Among the arrests, 122 suspects were apprehended for murder, with the majority from Gauteng and Eastern Cape. Additionally, 112 suspects were arrested for attempted murder, and 223 for rape, with KwaZulu-Natal recording the highest number. A total of 1 845 individuals were arrested for assault GBH, while 835 drug dealers were taken into custody. Another 2 282 suspects were arrested for drug possession, primarily in the Western Cape. Law enforcement also seized 129 illegal firearms, with the highest number of arrests related to firearms in KwaZulu-Natal.

Under recoveries and confiscations, SAPS seized 129 firearms, 1 129 rounds of ammunition, and recovered 65 hijacked and stolen vehicles. Significant takedowns included the arrest of a 39-year-old man in Mpumalanga linked to a mass shooting that killed eight people, and a joint operation in Sandringham that led to the rescue of 26 Ethiopian nationals held captive. Further successes were seen in operations against illegal mining and organized crime, resulting in multiple arrests across the country.

SAPS remains committed to asserting the authority of the state and ensuring the safety and security of all South Africans and visitors, continuing with its operations to combat crime and restore peace.