The South African Police Service (SAPS) has made significant progress in its ongoing efforts to combat crime, with the latest phase of Operation Shanela resulting in the arrest of 13 831 suspects between Monday 04 November and Sunday 10 November 2024.
Operation Shanela is a high-density crime prevention initiative aimed at tackling crime across South Africa. The operation involves a range of strategic measures, including tracking operations, roadblocks, high-visibility patrols, stop-and-searches, and the tracing of wanted suspects. Each province’s Provincial Commissioner oversees the execution of these operations, ensuring that the police response is tailored to the specific needs of the region.
During this period, the SAPS arrested a total of 1 105 wanted suspects, who were sought for a variety of serious crimes such as murder, attempted murder, rape, and business and house robberies. Among these arrests, 142 individuals were apprehended for murder, with the highest numbers recorded in KwaZulu-Natal (28), Western Cape (27), and Eastern Cape (26). Additionally, 123 suspects were arrested for attempted murder, marking a 29% increase compared to the previous week. In terms of sexual violence, 232 individuals were arrested for rape, with KwaZulu-Natal leading the way with 92 arrests. The SAPS also made significant arrests related to violent crime, including 1 556 individuals arrested for assault with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH).
In the fight against drugs, the SAPS arrested 228 drug dealers, which represents a 74% increase from the previous week. A total of 1 870 suspects were taken into custody for being in possession of drugs, with the Western Cape (806) and Gauteng (313) recording the highest numbers of arrests. Furthermore, 115 individuals were arrested for the illegal possession of firearms, with the majority of these arrests occurring in the Western Cape (29), KwaZulu-Natal (27), and Eastern Cape (17). The SAPS also detained 1 597 illegal foreign nationals during this operation, and 400 individuals were arrested for drunk driving.
Alongside these arrests, the SAPS achieved notable successes in the recovery of illicit weapons. A total of 151 firearms were confiscated, an increase of 52 firearms compared to the previous week. The police also seized 6 193 rounds of ammunition and recovered 66 hijacked or stolen vehicles.
Several high-profile operations stood out during the week’s activities. A task team focused on preventing and investigating criminal activity related to the theft of minerals and the murders of business executives at Richards Bay Minerals (RBM) made a breakthrough in a high-profile murder case. The task team tracked down 27-year-old Halalisani Mcunu in Gauteng, where they found him in possession of a 9 mm pistol and three AK-47 rifles, one of which has already been linked to the murder of a prominent businessman.
In White River, Mpumalanga, SAPS Flying Squad members conducting routine crime prevention patrols arrested a suspect who was found in possession of 13 firearms, including eight AK-47 rifles. The suspect, who initially fled when instructed to stop, was later intercepted and arrested during the operation.
Operation Vala Umgodi, which targets illegal mining activities, continued to deliver positive results this week. Over 1 000 illegal miners were found emerging from an abandoned mineshaft in Orkney, North West. In addition, the SAPS remains vigilant in combatting the illegal trade in counterfeit goods. During the week, the National Counterfeit Goods Unit led a takedown operation in Fordsburg, seizing more than 8 000 counterfeit items valued at over R2 million. The operation resulted in the arrest of 24 Pakistani nationals.
The SAPS said it remains steadfast in its commitment to ensuring the safety and security of all South Africans, as well as visitors to the country. With the continued success of operations such as Operation Shanela, the police service is determined to maintain the authority of the state and continue its efforts to combat crime across the nation.
