LIMPOPO POLICE APPREHEND 926 SUSPECTS AND RECOVER 6 FIREARMS DURING ONGOING OPERATION SHANELA
POLOKWANE: The South African Police Service in Limpopo is in an intense fight against crime through high-density operations. Shanela arrested 926 suspects between 18_24 May 2026, in all five districts.
Provincial police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba says six firearms and twenty-eight dangerous weapons, amongst others, were seized during the operation.
Among the arrests were:
▶️ 01 Murder
▶️ 01 Robbery with aggravating circumstances
▶️ 02 Robbery residence
▶️ 06 Rape
▶️ 14 Malicious damage to property
▶️ 400 illegal migrants
▶️ 65 Assault GBH
▶️ 41 Assault Common
▶️ 06 Illegal possession of firearms
▶️ 09 Possession of dangerous weapons
▶️ 24 Possession of drugs
▶️ 02 Dealing in drugs.
▶️ 05 Possession of illegal cigarettes
▶️ 35 Illegal dealing in liquor
▶️ 02 Second-hand Goods Act
▶️ 01 Possession of precious metals
▶️ 02 Robbery residence
▶️ 01 Attempted rape
▶️ 03 Burglary business
▶️ 10 Burglary residential
▶️ 09 Driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs
▶️ 287 for other crimes
Confiscations included:
▶️ 427,381 Liters of alcoholic beverages
▶️ 72 ammunition
▶️ 28 Dangerous weapons
▶️ 1,356 kg Drugs (Dagga)
▶️ 0.007 grams of Crystal Meth drugs
▶️ 0.006 grams of Nyaope drugs
▶️ R1580 in cash
▶️ 03 Cellphones
▶️ 01 Computer
▶️ 01 Dagga plants
▶️ 07 Firearms
▶️ 31 Small pipes of copper
▶️ 2014 Packets of tobacco products
▶️ 01 vehicle
Police actions carried out:
▶️ 1397 liquor premises inspected
▶️ 331 secondhand dealers inspected
▶️ 124 scrapyards searched
▶️ 7667 Informal businesses, e.g., spaza shops, were inspected to ensure labour law compliance.
▶️ 12 748 persons searched
▶️ 5919 vehicles searched
▶️ 72 Unlicensed liquor premises closed
Some of the arrested suspects have already appeared before their respective magistrates’ courts.
The Provincial Commissioner of Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, and MEC of Transport and Community Safety, Violent Mathye, will, on Wednesday, announce the provincial crime statistics for the 4th Quarter of 2025/2026.
