Operation Shanela has garnered 13 691 arrests, through coordinated efforts by law enforcement between Monday, 02 September and Sunday, 08 September 2024.

Members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) Detective Services and Crime Intelligence aided in tracing operations, while other members of SAPS conducted roadblocks and stop and searches. The SAPS said it has taken a bold and decisive approach in protecting the communities that it serves.

The SAPS announced 1 953 suspects were arrested for contact crimes, such as murder, rape, and business robbery. Arrests for murder came to 149 suspects, with one third of those coming from KwaZulu Natal (KZN), with 53 suspects. KZN also saw 76 of the 179 total arrests for rape.

Police have noted that assault with grievous bodily harm continues to register a large number of arrests, with 1 536 suspects arrested.

Driving under the influence saw 404 suspects arrested, 107 of which were arrested in the Western Cape.

The SAPS additionally made several recoveries, with 137 firearms confiscated, along with 5922 rounds of ammunition. Further, 53 stolen and hijacked vehicles were recovered.

Criminals have continued to fire of police officers, with six CIT armed robbers killed in Germiston in a shootout. A further six extortionists were shot and killed in Durban after confrontation with police. In Mthatha, criminals brazenly attacked members of the National Intervention Unit outside their offices, resulting in three deaths.

The OR Tambo district saw officers man 121 vehicle checkpoints and 32 roadblocks, searching 4570 people.

OR Tambo District Commissioner, Major General Pumzile Cetyana, applauded his members for increasing police visibility in the hot-spot areas of the district. “We will continue with these operations to ensure that communities feel safe and simultaneously regain the trust in the Service”, added Maj Gen Cetyana.