| 2025/03/24 |
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Media Statement
PRETORIA – Through its high-density operations commonly known as OPERATION SHANELA, the South African Police Service (SAPS) arrested 12 892 suspects from the period starting, Monday, 17 March 2025 ending on Sunday, 23 March 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: ▶️ 1 753 wanted suspects were arrested. These suspects were wanted for various serious and violent crimes such as murder, attempted murder, rape, business and house robberies. ▶️ 167 suspects were arrested for murder, majority of these suspects were arrested in KwaZulu-Natal (45), followed by WC (42); ▶️ 123 suspects were arrested for attempted murder; ▶️ 165 suspects were arrested for rape, 54 of these arrests were made in KwaZulu-Natal; ▶️ 1794 suspects were arrested for assault GBH during this period; ▶️ 203 drug dealers were arrested in the past week, majority of these suspects were arrested in Eastern Cape (47) ▶️ 1 507 suspects were arrested for being in possession of drugs, majority of these suspects were arrested in Western Cape (689); ▶️ 115 suspects were arrested for being in the illegal possession of firearms, majority of these suspects were arrested in KwaZulu-Natal (37); ▶️ 10 suspects were arrested for human trafficking during this period; ▶️ 432 drivers were arrested for drunken driving in the past week, majority of arrests in KwaZulu-Natal (121); Under recoveries and confiscations, police registered the following successes: ▶️ 119 firearms were confiscated in the past week; ▶️ 1 335 rounds of ammunition were also confiscated; ▶️ 76 hijacked and stolen vehicles were also recovered during this week’s operations. Highlights of major takedowns and other successes include the following: ▶️ On 18 March 2025, Gauteng police in collaboration with other law enforcement agencies arrested two suspected blue light robbers linked to a spate of robberies that have been happening on the N3 Highway between Villiers and De Hoek Toll Gate. The suspects will disguise as police officers, using a vehicle fitted with blue lights and sirens to pull over and hijack unsuspecting motorists. The team seized two unlicensed firearms with ammunition, military grade signal jammer, SAPS insignia including uniform and blue lights, and sirens fitted to the suspects’ vehicle and false registration numbers. ▶️Four suspected robbers, murderers and extortionists were fatally shot in a shootout with police on Duffs Road in KwaMashu, KwaZulu-Natal on 20 March 2025. The suspects opened fire when they were intercepted by police. During the shootout, four suspects were fatally wounded. Three firearms were seized in the incident. ▶️ Members of Limpopo Anti-Smuggling team conducted a successful operation along N 11 Road in Mahwelereng which resulted in the arrest of 20 Ethiopian foreign nationals who were allegedly smuggled into the country. The team operationalised intelligence information about a white Ford Ranger bakkie that was allegedly smuggling illegal foreign national from Beitbridge Point of Entry, heading to Johannesburg. During the operation, shots were fired at the police who returned fire until the vehicle lost control and stopped in the nearby bushes. Twenty foreign nationals were arrested, and a Ford Ranger bakkie was also seized. ▶️ Police arrested suspected drug mules at OR Tambo International Airport on 21 March 2025. A 24- year -old Brazilian man and 51-year-old South African woman arrived on the same on the same flight from from São Paulo, Brazil, were intercepted by police upon their arrival at the airport. Police seized cocaine valued at over R1 million. It has now brought the total number of similar arrests at the airport to five since January 2025. ▶️ On 18 March 2025, Gauteng police arrested a suspect in connection to the two shooting incidents that occurred on 03 February 2025 at Protea and Mapetla. During the shooting, two bus drivers were shot and killed. Police acted on a tip-off and arrested the suspect at Linden, and also seized his vehicle. ▶️On 17 March 2025, members of Emanguzi Task Team arrested a 41-year-old Mozambican serial hijacker linked to several number of vehicle theft and hijacking cases in Emanguzi, KwaZulu-Natal. The team traced and arrested him and seized a stolen truck and two trailers. He was previously arrested and convicted of five separate cases in Gauteng and Mpumalanga cases. 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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