Operation Shanela, the South African Police Service (SAPS) high-density crime fighting operation, resulted in the arrest of 14,795 suspects between Monday, 3 February 2025, and Sunday, 9 February 2025. These ongoing operations demonstrate SAPS’s bold and decisive approach to crime, incorporating tracking efforts, roadblocks, high-visibility patrols, stop-and-search initiatives, and suspect-tracing operations. Led by the Provincial Commissioner in each province, Operation Shanela continues to yield significant results in tackling crime across the country.
During this week alone, police arrested 2,777 wanted suspects for serious and violent crimes, including murder, attempted murder, rape, and business and house robberies. A total of 209 suspects were arrested for murder, with the highest numbers in KwaZulu-Natal (72) and Gauteng (63). Another 111 suspects were arrested for attempted murder, while 247 individuals were taken into custody for rape, with KwaZulu-Natal accounting for 113 of these arrests. Assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm led to 1,880 arrests, and drug-related crimes resulted in 174 drug dealers and 1,838 individuals being detained, with the Western Cape recording 949 of these arrests. Police also arrested 99 suspects for illegal possession of firearms, most of them in KwaZulu-Natal (30) and the Western Cape (27). Additionally, 1,285 illegal foreign nationals were detained, and 625 drivers were arrested for drunken driving, with Gauteng recording the highest number (183).
In terms of recoveries and confiscations, police seized 108 firearms, 1,321 rounds of ammunition, and 65 hijacked or stolen vehicles.
Several major takedowns took place during the week. In the Free State, members of the Fezile Dabi District Infrastructure Team arrested a 46-year-old truck driver for transporting stolen copper cables worth over R8 million. In Northam, a joint intelligence-driven operation led to the arrest of a 35-year-old man found trafficking dagga worth over R15 million. Meanwhile, in Limpopo, a well-coordinated tactical operation uncovered an illegal mining processing plant, resulting in the arrest of four foreign nationals, including two suspected kingpins.
In Mpumalanga, 20 security officers were arrested for possessing fraudulently acquired firearm competency certificates. KwaZulu-Natal police arrested two suspected hitmen linked to the murder of a ward councillor and the attempted murder of his sister in Sundumbili. The same suspects were also connected to the murder of an induna in the area.
Another major bust in Komani, Eastern Cape, saw a 55-year-old suspected drug trafficker arrested with mandrax tablets worth R9 million. Acting on intelligence, police intercepted an Isuzu truck along Cathcart Road, discovering 111 bags containing 1,000 mandrax tablets.
SAPS remains committed to enforcing the law and ensuring the safety of all South Africans and visitors. Operation Shanela will continue to assert the authority of the state in combating crime across the country.
