| Over 1 000 suspects arrested and 10 firearms seized as Operation Shanela intensifies across Limpopo | |
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| Date Published: | |
| 2026/03/17 | |
| Description Details: | |
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Media Statement POLOKWANE - The South African Police Service in Limpopo continues to tighten the grip on crime through the sustained high-density Operation Shanela, which yielded significant successes across the province between 09 and 15 March 2026. During this weekly crime-combatting operation, police arrested 1090 suspects for a range of offences, including serious and violent crimes. Among those arrested are 15 suspects for murder, 12 for rape, and 215 for contravention of the Immigration Act. Through coordinated policing actions such as intelligence-driven operations, patrols, roadblocks, stop-and-search activities, and compliance inspections, police also confiscated 10 firearms and several rounds of ammunition, preventing them from being used in the commission of further crimes. The arrests include suspects linked to the following offences: ▶️ 01 Attempted murder ▶️ 02 Robbery at residential premises ▶️ 08 Robbery at business premises ▶️ 01 Illegal mining ▶️ 04 Theft of or from motor vehicle ▶️ 29 Malicious damage to property ▶️ 215 Contravention of the Immigration Act ▶️ 58 Assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH) ▶️ 51 Common assault ▶️ 08 Illegal possession of firearms ▶️ 09 Illegal possession of ammunition ▶️ 27 Possession of dangerous weapons ▶️ 12 Possession of drugs ▶️ 48 Illegal dealing in liquor ▶️ 48 Driving under the influence of alcohol ▶️ 12 Burglary at residential premises ▶️ 05 Burglary at business premises ▶️ 01 Carjacking Items confiscated during the operations include: ▶️ 10 Firearms ▶️ 62 Rounds of ammunition ▶️ 12 Dangerous weapons ▶️ 813,917 litres of alcoholic beverages ▶️ 17,694 kg of dagga ▶️ 4,5 g of crystal meth ▶️ 33,178 g of nyaope ▶️ 03 Vehicles Operational actions conducted: ▶️ 1167 Liquor outlets inspected, with unlicensed liquor premises closed ▶️ 365 Second-hand goods dealers inspected ▶️ 98 Scrap yards searched ▶️ 7894 Informal businesses, including spaza shops, inspected ▶️ 12 250 Persons searched ▶️ 6522 Vehicles searched ▶️ 4288 Stop-and-search operations conducted The Provincial Commissioner of Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, applauded members for maintaining operational momentum in the fight against crime. "These results demonstrate the impact of consistent, intelligence-driven operations in disrupting criminal activities and removing dangerous weapons and illicit goods from our communities. Police will continue to intensify Operation Shanela to ensure that those who commit crimes are brought to justice," said Lieutenant General Hadebe. All arrested suspects have begun appearing before various Magistrates’ Courts across the province, while investigations into the cases continue. Ends
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