Fresh after the South African Police Service (SAPS) deployed a Stabilisation Team to the City of Tshwane to conduct operations in northern Pretoria, police arrested more than 500 suspects in Tshwane over the weekend.
The suspects were apprehended by multidisciplinary teams of personnel from different law enforcement agencies that were tasked to patrol and safeguard the capital city. Operations were carried out in cooperation with departments such as Home Affairs, Gauteng Traffic, local law enforcement, including the Tshwane Metro Police Department, and Community Policing Forums. Officers from different SAPS stations also played crucial roles.
The activities included patrols in high-crime areas, compliance inspections, and crackdowns on illegal alcohol sales, the SAPS said.
By the end of the weekend, 243 individuals were arrested for offenses such as assault, housebreaking, public drinking, driving under the influence, and armed robbery, as part of routine police actions across Tshwane.
In the Wierdabrug and Olievenhoutbosch areas, Operation Shanela saw Tshwane Detective teams arrest 228 suspects, including those involved in serious crimes such as murder, assault, rape, and gender-based violence.
Three reaction groups of officers were deployed and tasked with patrolling and enforcing the law in the Wierdabrug and Olievenhoutbosch areas. Five liquor premises were inspected, resulting in the closure of four premises and the confiscation of 308 750 ml bottles of illicit liquor for violating the Liquor Act with three crystal meth ziplock bags found abandoned.
Additionally, 52 undocumented persons were detained for deportation, and 1 person was arrested for employing illegal immigrants.
With this operation, 612 individuals and 345 vehicles were inspected and searched, with five vehicles tested to determine if they had been stolen. Seven premises were also searched, leading to the arrest of 17 individuals for drunk driving, and five persons for drinking in public. One person was arrested and charged for the possession of illicit cigarettes when 350 cartons of cigarettes were found in his possession.
While stop and search actions were executed in Olievenhoutbosch, a grey Audi with seven occupants was stopped and searched. An unlicensed firearm that was reported stolen in a house robbery in 2021 in Olievenhoutbosch was discovered in the vehicle. The firearm be sent for ballistic tests to determine whether the suspects and the firearm could be linked to other criminal activities.
In another incident, on 20 July, members of the Tshwane District Stabilization Team were on duty performing crime prevention patrols on the R566 road in Akasia when a suspicious white VW Polo was seen driving in the direction of Ga-Rankuwa. The police attempted to stop and search the vehicle. However, the vehicle did not stop, resulting in a high-speed chase.
The chase concluded in the Mmakau area where the driver lost control and hit a wall. The driver was apprehended, and upon searching the vehicle, 25 kg of dagga with a street value of approximately R20 000 was found. The suspect was arrested for possession and dealing in dagga and detained.
While patrolling the Mabopane area, police found a white Toyota Land Cruiser abandoned on the road. Preliminary investigations revealed that the vehicle had been reported stolen in Garsfontein in July 2024. The vehicle was seized, and investigations will be conducted to trace and return it to its rightful owner.
Continuing with their successes, members of the Online Intervention Team received information about a truck hijacking incident on the N1 highway. Using the information and coordinates provided, the team recovered the abandoned truck with the keys still inside.
In addition, 49 Aarto traffic infringement notices were issued, amounting to R27 250.
Brigadier Samuel Thine, the Acting District Commissioner of Tshwane, extended his gratitude to all role-players and personnel for their commitment.
On 14 May, previous Police Minister Bheki Cele deployed the Stabilisation Team to Tshwane after the murder of a 5-year-old boy during the hijacking of his father’s vehicle in Shoshanguve. The Tshwane Stabilisation Team intends to reduce instances of road spikings, robbery, drugs, hijackings and vehicle theft.
