Pretoria: The South African Police Service (SAPS) is implementing a nationwide Safer Festive Season Operation alongside Operation Shanela II in the fight against crime ahead of the festive season. ‘These intensified intelligence-led driven operations resulted in the arrest of 17,817 suspects from 03 to 09 November 2025 across multiple provinces,’ the police said in a statement.
According to South African Government News Agency, the week-long operations saw police tracking down and apprehending 2,843 wanted suspects for serious crimes such as murder, rape, car hijackings, drug trafficking, robberies, and sexual offences. The national arrest numbers include 145 for murder, 154 for attempted murder, 137 for rape, 1,505 for assault grievous bodily harm, 630 for driving under the influence, 1,366 illegal migrants, 921 for illegal dealing in liquor, 85 for illegal possession of firearms, 529 for possession of dangerous weapons, 3,255 for possession of drugs, and 293 for dealing in drugs.
The police added that contraband worth more than R18.9 million was seized during this period. Among the items confiscated were 121 firearms, including 9 rifles, 4 homemade, 4 shotguns, 2,238 rounds of ammunition, 48 vehicles, and 871 dangerous weapons. In collaboration with Interpol NCB Pretoria members, police rescued three Botswana nationals, aged between 20 and 23 years, who were victims of human trafficking at OR Tambo International on 07 November 2025.
Additionally, the Gauteng Counterfeit Unit, along with other law enforcement entities, conducted an operation targeting counterfeit goods in Johannesburg Central, resulting in the seizure of counterfeit goods valued at R11.4 million. Items seized included clothes, shoes, embroidery machines, and packaging materials.
In a separate incident, four suspected cash-in-transit robbers were shot and killed in a shootout with police and other law enforcement officers in Bronkhorstspruit. A fifth suspect was arrested, and several firearms, including two rifles, were seized along with a Mercedes Benz.
Police operations extended to Limpopo, where a 54-year-old male suspect was arrested in connection with a R10 million insurance murder, fraud, and money laundering case. In the Western Cape, four suspects were apprehended for their involvement in brutal murder cases in Philippi East.
Members of Operation Lockdown III and the Endangered Species K9 Unit arrested individuals in Primrose Park for possession of abalone worth over R3 million. In Ngome, KwaZulu-Natal, a 48-year-old suspect was arrested for a series of heinous crimes, including murder and rape.
In Mpumalanga, police intercepted a truck transporting suspected illicit goods, seizing counterfeit items valued at R1 million. In the Northern Cape, officers intercepted a vehicle uncovering dagga worth R7.7 million. Lastly, in Libode, Eastern Cape, a suspect was arrested for possession of an unlicensed AK-47 and drugs.
The South African Police Service continues to urge communities to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity as the festive season intensifies.