Johannesburg: Police have arrested 16,817 suspects in connection with various crimes as authorities intensify their nationwide Safer Festive Season Operation running alongside Operation Shanela II.
According to South African Government News Agency, in the past week, these crime-fighting initiatives and tracking operations led to the apprehension of 2,626 wanted suspects for serious and violent crimes including murder, attempted murder, rape, car-hijackings, sexual offences, and robberies.
In addition, 1,013 suspects were arrested for illegal liquor trade and 771 suspects for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Police confiscated 25,117 litres of alcohol during these operations. The South African Police Service (SAPS) detailed the arrests, highlighting the capture of 146 murder suspects, with the highest numbers recorded in KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape.
Police also arrested 141 suspects for rape, with Gauteng accounting for the majority. Moreover, 131 suspects faced charges for attempted murder, while 1,580 were arrested for assault GBH. The crackdown on drugs resulted in 2,978 arrests for possession, with the Western Cape leading in numbers, and 279 suspects were arrested for dealing in drugs.
The operations led to significant seizures and recoveries, including 128 unlicensed firearms, 1,916 dangerous weapons, contraband goods worth over R20 million, and 65 stolen and hijacked vehicles. Notably, police arrested two Mozambican nationals after recovering firearms stolen from officers who were killed.
In separate incidents, two bodyguards were arrested outside the Alexandra Magistrate’s Court for possession of semi-automatic rifles, and in the Western Cape, an illicit alcohol manufacturing plant was uncovered. A truck carrying cocaine worth R3.6 million was intercepted, leading to the arrest of a suspect for dealing in cocaine.
In Mpumalanga, police seized illicit cigarettes worth R17.4 million hidden inside water tanks and arrested a foreign national. Additionally, two Zimbabwean nationals were arrested for dealing in dagga. Police in the Northern Cape intercepted a vehicle allegedly transporting a rhino horn, resulting in the arrest of three suspected poachers.
In KwaZulu-Natal, operations led to the arrest of individuals for possession of unlicensed firearms, including an AK47 assault rifle and other weapons. The ongoing efforts highlight the commitment of authorities to combat crime and ensure public safety during the festive season.