Pretoria: Over 15,000 individuals have been arrested in the ongoing Operation Shanela initiative, as reported by the South African Police Service (SAPS).
According to South African Government News Agency, these successes stem from proactive policing tactics, including high-visibility patrols, roadblocks, stop-and-search initiatives, and intelligence-led suspect tracing. From June 16 to 22, 2025, 15,372 arrests were made.
Among those arrested were 2,400 wanted individuals linked to serious and violent crimes, including murder, attempted murder, rape, and robbery. A further 159 suspects were arrested for murder, with 62 in Gauteng and 43 in the Western Cape.
Other key arrests include 86 for attempted murder, 100 for rape, with Gauteng leading at 25 arrests, 1,173 for assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH), and 235 identified drug dealers. Additionally, 2,602 individuals were arrested for drug possession, with the majority in the Western Cape (1,460). Sixty-seven people were arrested for ille
gal firearm possession, with 22 from KwaZulu-Natal, and 14 individuals were detained for human trafficking. Furthermore, 1,328 illegal foreign nationals were detained, and 1,140 drivers were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs, with the highest numbers in KwaZulu-Natal (411).
Police also recovered and confiscated 102 firearms, 1,278 rounds of ammunition, and 64 hijacked or stolen vehicles. In the North West, two suspects were arrested for the fatal shooting of an elderly couple in Rustenburg, where a firearm was recovered. Additionally, police intercepted two vehicles on the N1 near Makhado carrying dagga valued at R3 million.
In KwaZulu-Natal, a 49-year-old man was arrested in Adams Mission for illegal possession of two AK-47s and a pistol. Ammunition was also seized. Meanwhile, in Gauteng, police apprehended three Mozambican nationals in Kingsway for cross-border motorcycle theft, with dismantled motorcycle parts found prepared for smuggling.
In the Eastern Cape, two Lesotho nat
ionals were arrested for human trafficking, where 10 children were rescued in Matatiele. ‘SAPS remains committed to relentless, multidisciplinary crime prevention through Operation Shanela and related initiatives. The National Commissioner of Police, General Fannie Masemola, applauded the dedication of all police officers and partners who collaborated with the police,’ the South African Police Service said in a statement on Monday.