| 13 365 arrested, 106 unlicensed firearms and 759 dangerous weapons seized during nationwide Shanela II operations | |
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| Date Published: | |
| 2026/05/11 | |
| Description Details: | |
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Media Statement PRETORIA - This week, the South African Police Service (SAPS) arrested 13 365 suspects including 1 794 wanted individuals for various offences during nationwide SHANELA II operations. While the country observes Child Protection Month, police arrested 146 suspects for rape across all nine provinces. Majority of these suspects were apprehended in the province of KwaZulu-Natal (49) followed by Gauteng (33). In some of these cases the victims are children. In one incident, a 48-year-old neighbour was arrested in Musina, Vhemba District, on Friday, 08 May 2026, for the alleged rape of a 10-year-old girl. The victim’s mother reported the incident to the police after she noticed unusual behaviour from her daughter. The suspect reportedly attacked the minor the previous evening. Justice was served when the Colesburg Regional Court sentenced a 24-year-old rapist from Kuyasa, Northern Cape, to 30 year’s imprisonment on two counts of rape this week. He was found guilty of raping a minor girl between 2023 and 2025 who was eight years old at the time of the first incident. The victim later confided in a friend, and they reported it to their teacher leading to the rapist’s arrest. Also, a 42-year-old father from Bothaville, Free State, was sentenced to two life terms and five years’ direct imprisonment this week for the repeated rape of his daughter. The victim was four years old, now 13, when the sexual abuse started. Other key arrests for the past week (04 to 10 May 2026) : ▶️ Assault GBH: 1 256 ▶️ Murder: 115 ▶️ Illegal possession of firearms: 67 ▶️ Dealing in drugs: 280 (MP - 57, WC - 56, GP - 55) ▶️Possession of drugs: 2573 (WC - 1675) In the past week, police seized: ▶️106 unlicensed firearms of different calibres; ▶️1716 rounds of ammunition; ▶️ 759 dangerous weapons; and ▶️ 104 hijacked or stolen vehicles were also recovered during this same period Significant successes recorded in the past week: National: Recent nationwide takedown operations yielded 16 arrests and the recovery of counterfeit goods worth more than R17 million. These operations form part of on-going efforts to dismantle the illegal trade in counterfeit, illicit, and contraband goods in the country. North West: An intelligence driven operation resulted in the arrest of five suspects, including a police officer, in connection with an ATM bombing incident on 06 May 2026 in Dinokana, Zeerust. The arrests follow a multidisciplinary operation that tracked the suspects, leading to a confrontation between police and the suspects at Magogae Village, Mmabatho. During the shootout, three suspects were fatally wounded. KwaZulu-Natal: A suspect was fatally wounded during a shootout with police on 09 May 2026. He allegedly kidnapped a Pakistani businessman in Hluhluwe on 06 May 2026 and demanded ransom for the victim’s release. Still on KZN, five suspected rhino poachers were shot and fatally wounded in a shootout with police in Hluhluwe on 09 May 2026. The suspects were found in possession of a hunting rifle, a silencer, and two pistols.
Gauteng: Under Operation Prosper, police in Gauteng in collaboration with the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), participating departments and other law enforcement agencies arrested 62 foreign nationals in Crystal Park on 06 May 2026. Several illegal mining equipment were seized during this operation. Limpopo: A joint intelligence-driven operation resulted in the arrest of eight suspects for illegal mining activities in and around Giyani on 08 May 2026. Police also seized unlicensed firearms, ammunition, illegal mining equipment, and a vehicle used in the commission of the crime. Eastern Cape: On 06 May 2026, police in Eastern Cape arrested two suspects, aged 34 and 39, for the murder of a family member in the Gouda Administration Area a month ago. Mpumalanga: Following a tip-off, police in Graskop arrested two suspects on 06 May 2026 and seized a consignment of dagga valued at R6 million. Western Cape: Under Operation Lockdown III, police deployed in the Western Cape arrested two suspects on 08 May 2026 in Nyanga for possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition. Police also seized four unlicensed firearms and several rounds of ammunition. Rest assured, our men and women in blue are hard at work in creating a safer and more secure country for all - 365 days a year. Ends
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