| 2025/01/20 |
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Media Statement PRETORIA – Through its high-density operations commonly known as OPERATION SHANELA, the South African Police Service (SAPS) arrested 13 060 suspects from the period starting, Monday, 13 January 2025 ending on Sunday, 19 January 2025. 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: ▶️ 2 198 wanted suspects were arrested. These suspects were wanted for various serious and violent crimes such as murder, attempted murder, rape, business and house robberies. ▶137 suspects were arrested for murder, majority of these suspects were arrested in Western Cape (44), followed by Gauteng (32); ▶️ 107suspects were arrested for attempted murder; ▶️ 242 suspects were arrested for rape, again KwaZulu-Natal arrested majority of these suspects with 102 arrests; ▶️ 1 290 suspects were arrested for assault GBH during this period; ▶️242 drug dealers were arrested in the past week; ▶️ 1 781 suspects were arrested for being in possession of drugs, majority of these suspects were arrested in Western Cape (841); ▶️ 112 suspects were arrested for being in the illegal possession of firearms, majority of these suspects were arrested in Western Cape (31), followed by KZN (30); ▶️ 1 126 illegal foreign nationals were also arrested during this period; ▶️456 drivers were arrested for drunken driving in the past week, majority of arrests in Gauteng (94), followed by Mpumalanga (83) Under recoveries and confiscations, police registered the following successes: ▶️ 152 firearms were confiscated in the past week; ▶️ 2 484 rounds of ammunition were also confiscated; ▶️ 69 hijacked and stolen vehicles were also recovered during this week’s operations. Highlights of major takedowns and other successes include the following: ▶️ Police in KwaZulu-Natal arrested 12 men who killed five men at a sports field at Bambayi in Inanda on Friday, 17 January 2025. The suspects are expected to appear at the Inanda Magistrates’ Court today and are facing five counts of murder. ▶️ On 14 January 2025, Mpumalanga police apprehended a 43-year-old man in connection with the shooting incident in Pienaar, where eight people were shot and killed ,and three others sustained injuries on Saturday, 11 January 2025. During the arrest of the second suspect, police confiscated three pistols. ▶️ Police in Gauteng arrested three men who are suspected of car hijackings in Pretoria. The trio were arrested on Tuesday, 14 January 2025, at Pretoria Central after they were found in possession of a firearm and a VW Golf GTI that was reported to be hijacked in Hillbrow, recently. ▶️ Police in the Eastern Cape arrested five men suspected of damaging a cellphone tower in Jansenville. The suspects’ vehicle was intercepted and stopped on the R336 road outside Addo. They were arrested and charged with damage to the essential infrastructure. Their case has been handed over to the Hawks for further investigations. ▶️ The South African Police Service (SAPS) conducted a takedown operation in Midrand on Friday, 17 January 2025, which led to the arrest of a 35-year-old man for possession, accessing, downloading and distribution of child pornography as well as possession of drugs, and fraud. ▶️ OPERATION VALA UMGODI task teams continue to record commendable successes in the country. Just last week alone, police arrested 324 suspects for illegal mining, and the majority of these suspects were arrested in the North West province with 253 arrests. ▶️ A multi-disciplinary team comprised of the Mpumalanga HAWKS, Detectives, Intelligence, and a security company arrest five suspects, aged between 29 and 40 years who are linked to the murder of an on-duty Police Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Piet Pretorious on Thursday, 16 January 2025 in Ermelo. The team traced and arrested suspects in Nelspruit. A vehicle believed to have been used in the commission of crime has also been found torched in Ermelo. ▶️ Members of Brits Trio Task Team in the North West conducted intelligence driven operation which led to the arrest of three brothers; Nyiko Sithole (26), Bennett Sithole (24) and Derrick Sithole (27) in connection with various offences ranging from house robbery, kidnapping and theft in Brits. 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
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