The South African Police Service (SAPS) arrested almost a quarter of a million suspects as part of heightened crime-fighting operations over the festive season, between early October and end January.

National Commissioner for the South African Police Service, General Fannie Masemola, during a media briefing to provide an update on the SAPS Nationwide Safer Festive Season Operations, said 244 951 arrests were made.

“From the period 01 October 2024 to 31 December 2024 – a total of 9 908 accused were found guilty and convicted for various crimes, including murder, rape, armed robberies, house breaking and car hijacking,” Masemola said.

He also announced that a total of 2 198 illegal and unlicensed firearms were seized and confiscated during operations. These include 1 731 handguns, 154 homemade guns, 211 rifles, and 102 shotguns.

Masemola said the majority of firearms seized were confiscated in Kwazulu-Natal, Gauteng, Eastern Cape and the Western Cape.

“Firearms remain a big problem in South Africa as most serious and violent crimes including murders were committed with the use of a firearm,” the National Commissioner said.

In this regard, 37 658 rounds of ammunition were also seized and 1 767 explosives that are mainly used in illegal mining activities and cash in transit armed robberies were also seized.

In addition, the police recovered R4 million in cash and seized 16 293 stolen cell phones, which were either taken during crimes or used in their commission, for further investigation and analysis.

Furthermore, a total of 960 stolen and hijacked vehicles were recovered.

During the October to end January period, more than two million patrols were conducted, with more than 4 600 roadblocks, 620 000 stop and searches, and more than two million persons were searched in the country.

“Further to that, over 78 000 licensed liquor premises compliance inspections were executed together with more than 12 000 compliance inspections at firearm dealers and private security premises. A total of 6 547 unlicensed liquor premises were shut down throughout the country during this period.

“Through our safer festive season operational concept, which is inclusive of Operation Shanela, we intensified our prevention and combatting strategies on nine focus areas with serious and violent crimes at the centre of attention.

“From combatting and putting perpetrators of Gender-Based-Violence-and Femicide (GBVF), Aggravated robberies, murders, rape and car hijacking in prison– we have been hard at work in asserting and reaffirming the authority of the state,” Masemola said.

“Crime intelligence continuously monitored various organised crime threats which include theft of motor vehicles, kidnappings for extortion, cash in transit armed robberies, critical infrastructure, illegal mining and stock theft – to mention but a few of other key crime categories,” the National Commissioner said.