Pretoria, South Africa – In a week-long, high-density effort, the South African Police Service (SAPS) arrested 12,805 suspects between February 10 and February 16, 2025, as part of its ongoing nationwide operation, Operation Shanela.The operation was led by provincial commissioners. It aimed to combat crime with roadblocks, searches, and tracking.
Key Arrests and Seizures
Among the arrested suspects, 2,122 were wanted for serious crimes, including murder, attempted murder, rape, and robberies. The operation saw 151 suspects arrested for murder. The highest number of arrests, 34, occurred in KwaZulu-Natal.
Police also made significant progress in addressing gender-based violence, arresting 208 suspects for rape, with the majority of these arrests in KwaZulu-Natal. In addition, 121 suspects were arrested for attempted murder, and 1,447 individuals were arrested for assault.
The operation led to the seizure of 129 firearms and 1,823 rounds of ammunition. It also recovered 70 hijacked vehicles. SAPS arrested 2,468 suspects for drug-related offenses. The Western Cape saw the highest number, with 1,508 arrests.
Targeted Crime Syndicates
Operation Shanela also tackled several major crime syndicates. In Mpumalanga, two suspects were arrested in connection to the torching of Putco buses. Police also apprehended a drug syndicate selling performance-enhancing drugs online, with six arrests made in Pretoria.
A significant breakthrough came when SAPS’ Crime Intelligence team, alongside the Gauteng Highway Patrol, arrested three suspects involved in ATM bombings. Police seized R160,000 in dye-stained cash, along with chemicals used to clean the money.
In Limpopo, police fatally shot a most-wanted suspect linked to 17 serious crimes during a raid on February 11. Similarly, the National Intervention Unit (NIU) killed three suspects in a shootout in Indwe, Eastern Cape.
Continued Focus on Security
The South African Police Service reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring safety and security throughout the nation, with further operations planned to assert the authority of the state. Police aim to continue fighting crime while safeguarding South Africans and visitors.
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