The South African Police Service (SAPS) managed to arrest 13 691 suspects nationally from 2 September until 8 September during Operation Shanela activities.
SAPS confirmed the arrests were made through detectives and crime intelligence tracing operations, roadblocks as well as stop and searches. “Police have taken a bold and decisive approach in protecting the communities they serve,” said Brigadier Athlenda Mathe.
Just this week alone, the following arrests were made:
- 1 953 wanted suspects for crimes such as murder, rape, possession of illegal firearms and business robberies were arrested
- 149 suspects were arrested for murder, 53 were arrested in KZN
- 91 suspects were arrested for attempted murder
- 179 suspects were arrested for rape, 76 of them were arrested in KwaZulu-Natal
- 161 suspects were arrested for the illegal possession of firearms
- Assault GBH continues to register a large number of arrests with 1 536 suspects arrested
- 576 suspects were arrested for the illegal dealing in liquor, 156 arrests were made in MP while 147 were made in KZN
- 271 drug dealers were arrested during this period
- 404 were arrested for drunken driving, 107 were arrested in WC and 84 were arrested in GP
- 1 460 suspects were arrested for being in possession of drugs, 622 of these arrests were made in the Western Cape
Under recoveries and confiscations, police registered the following successes:
- 137 firearms were confiscated during operations, 30 of these firearms were confiscated during police operations in EC, WC (27) and KZN (26).
- 5 922 rounds of ammunition were also confiscated, 4 845 rounds were confiscated in WC and 1 034 were confiscated in GP
- 53 hijacked and stolen vehicles were also recovered during this week’s operations
A highlight of major takedowns include the following:
- Six CIT armed robbers were killed in Germiston
- Three kidnappers were arrested in Ennerdale, Gauteng, where a Pakistani businessman was rescued
- Three alleged extortionists were shot and killed at NIU base in Mthatha following an attack on NIU members at the police unit base
- Six extortionists were shot and killed in Durban after confrontation with police
- 59 illegal miners, two trucks and one TLB were seized in Limpopo during OPERATION VALA UMGODI
- An insurance fraud suspect was arrested for killing his two cousins and his own son for insurance pay-outs in North West
- Suspect who raped and killed a girl (11) in Hendrina, Mpumalanga, was arrested
- Police will continue with their operations in stamping the authority of the state to ensure the safety and security of all people living in South Africa
Compiled by Abigail Visagie
