Accra:Free State Over 1,000 suspects have been apprehended as a result of Operation Shanela II's recent efforts in the Free State over the past week. This initiative, conducted by the Multi-sectoral Integrated forces within the Free State Provincial Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (ProvJOINTS), involved the South African Police Service and other law enforcement agencies.

According to South African Government News Agency, the operation resulted in the arrest of 1,032 individuals for various offenses. These arrests included nine suspects for murder, 39 for attempted murder, 32 for rape, one for attempted rape, and 165 for assault causing grievous bodily harm. Additionally, three were arrested for business robbery, one for house robbery, nine for burglary at business premises, 48 for malicious damage to property, and 49 for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

The intensive operations were carried out across all five districts of the Free State. During these operations, the team employed various strategies, including the search of 498 premises, 48,556 people, and 13,576 vehicles. The actions also involved 940 stop and search operations, 338 tracking operations by specialized teams, 403 high visibility patrols, 214 vehicle checkpoints, 16 roadblocks, 4,811 patrols, and 196 tracing operations for wanted suspects by detectives. Furthermore, 14 unlicensed liquor premises were shut down.

Compliance inspections were also conducted at 570 licensed liquor premises, 154 second-hand dealers, and 71 scrapyards and recyclers. The police stated that the planned Safer Festive Season Operation Shanela II policing actions would continue in areas of concern and identified crime hotspots within the Fezile Dabi District, Lejweleputswa District, Thabo Mofutsanyane District, Xhariep District, and Mangaung Metro.