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News: 13 831 Suspects arrested during this week's nationwide Shanela operations
2024/11/11

Media Statement
South African Police Service (SAPS)

PRETORIA - Through its high-density operations commonly known as OPERATION SHANELA, the South African Police Service (SAPS) arrested 13 831 suspects from the period starting, Monday, 04 November 2024 ending on Sunday, 10 November 2024.

Through OPERATION SHANELA, the SAPS continues to take a bold and decisive approach in dealing with crime in the country. These crime fighting activities include tracking operations, roadblocks, high visibility patrols, stop and searches as well as tracing of wanted suspects.

All SHANELA operations are led by the Provincial Commissioner of each province.

Just this week alone, the following arrests were made:

  • 1 105 wanted suspects were arrested. These suspects were wanted for various serious and violent crimes such as murder, attempted murder, rape, business and house robberies;
  • 142 suspects were arrested for murder, majority of these suspects were arrested in the KwaZulu-Natal (28) followed by Western Cape (27) and Easten Cape (26);
  • 123 suspects were arrested for attempted murder, 29 more arrests than the previous week
  • 232 suspects were arrested for rape, again KwaZulu-Natal arrested majority of these suspects with 92 arrests;
  • 1 556 suspects were arrested for assault GBH during this period;
  • 228 drug dealers were arrested, 74 more drug dealers behind bars than the previous week;
  • 1 870 suspects were arrested for being in possession of drugs, majority of these suspects were arrested in Western Cape (806) followed by Gauteng (313);
  • 115 suspects were arrested for being in the illegal possession of firearms, majority of these suspects were arrested in Western Cape (29) followed by KwaZulu-Natal (27) and Eastern Cape (17);
  • 1 597 illegal foreign nationals were also arrested during this period;
  • 400 drivers were arrested for drunk and driving in the past week

Under recoveries and confiscations, police registered the following successes:

  • 151 firearms were confiscated in the past week, 52 more firearms confiscated than the previous week;
  • 6 193 rounds of ammunition were also confiscated
  • 66 hijacked and stolen vehicles were also recovered during this week’s operations

Highlights of major takedowns and other successes include the following:

  • An SAPS task team deployed to prevent, combat and investigate criminality linked to the theft of mineral and murders of executives and businessmen at Richard Bay Minerals (RBM) mine has registered a breakthrough in a murder case of a prominent businessman in the area. This week, the task team traced 27-year-old Halalisani Mcunu to Gauteng. He was found in possession of a 9mm pistol and three AK47’s of which one has already been linked to the murder of a murdered businessman.
  • SAPS Flying Squad members in White River, Mpumalanga were out conducting a routine crime prevention patrol last week they arrested a suspect and confiscated 13 firearms found in his possession that included eight AK47’s. The members were reportedly out on a routine patrol when they were met by the suspect who ignored they instruction to stop and sped off whose vehicle was successfully intercepted.
  • OPERATION VALA UMGODI continues to register commendable successes since its inception in December 2023. Just this week alone more than a thousand illegal miners resurfaced from an abandoned mineshaft in Orkney, North West.
  • The SAPS is committed to eradicating the illegal trade in counterfeit goods to safeguard consumers, legitimate businesses, and the economy of the country. This week, the National Counterfeit Goods Unit led another takedown operation in Fordsburg and seized more than 8 000 counterfeit items worth over R2 million. Twenty-four Pakistani nationals were arrested during this multi-disciplinary operation.

Police will continue with their operations by asserting the authority of the state to ensure the safety and security of all South Africans and visitors to the country. 

Ends

Enquiries:
Lieutenant Colonel Amanda van Wyk
067 595 0163

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