By REGINALD KANYANE
6 July 2025- The police in the Northern Cape said it has, through Operation Shanela 2, intensified its police strategies to ensure that crime is reduced. Operations specifically focused on reducing contact crimes in hotspot areas, with specific emphasis on murder, Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF), the proliferation of firearms and ammunition, as well as drug trafficking.
The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Sergeant Timothy Sam said disruptive actions were executed and led by the five District Commissioners and Senior officers across the province. Sam said these actions commenced on 30 June 2025 until 6 July 2025.
“This resulted in the subsequent apprehension and arrest of 236 suspects, as well as the confiscation of numerous items. The targeted operations focused on roadblocks, vehicle check points, stop and searches.
“This includes compliance inspections and activities targeting drug and contraband smuggling , the tracking and tracing of wanted suspects and heightened police visibility that aimed at preventing and combating serious and violent crimes during this week,” he said.
Sam further said the actions resulted in a total of 2739 vehicles and 5904 persons being stopped and searched at various vehicle check points (VCPs) and roadblocks across the province. He added that numerous compliance inspections at second-hand dealers, scrapyards, recyclers, private security companies, firearm dealers, formal and informal businesses, as well as farms were conducted.
“Operational successes achieved, included the arrest of 236 suspects for murder, attempted murder, assault, burglaries, illegal dealing in liquor, contravention of the Firearms
Control Act.
“Other suspects were arrested for illegal possession of firearm, theft off or out of motor vehicle, malicious damage to property, driving under the influence of alcohol, robbery, rape, possession of dangerous weapons, dealing in and possession of drugs, illegal immigrants, and other crimes,” said Sam.
He said the police in Roodepan, supported by the Kimberley Public Order Police Unit, followed up on information regarding dagga sales and pounced on the unsuspecting suspect in Lorato Park in Kimberley. Sam said in Postmasburg, members of the Firearm, Liquor and Second-hand Goods, swiftly arrested two suspects aged 30, for possession of alleged stolen copper cables valued at approximately R170 000.
“The police confiscated large volumes of alcoholic beverages during raids at liquor outlets, drugs, dangerous weapons, firearms and cash that is believed to be the proceeds of crime.
“Several community awareness campaigns addressing various issues were initiated by stations in conjunction with community policing structures and government departments across the province,” said Sam.
Meanwhile, the Northern Cape Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Koliswa Otola appreciated all the efforts and activities by all SAPS members, law enforcement agencies and stakeholders as well as all community policing structures for their concerted efforts in preventing, combatting and fighting crime, making sure that nobody is left behind. Otola urged all citizens to be alert and vigilant at all times and report any suspicious criminal activity immediately to the SAPS emergency number 08600 10111 or via the MySAPS App.
The Guardian 