Picture: Some of the drugs seized by the police/Supplied
By REGINALD KANYANE
15 November 2026 – The police in the Northern Cape in collaboration with stakeholders within the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) Cluster, continues to intensify its efforts to combat crime and enhance community safety through sustained Operation Shanela II and Safer Festive Season operations. The coordinated operations conducted across all five districts of the province from 4 until 15 November 2026, resulted in the arrest of 220 suspects for various offences, while detectives successfully traced and arrested an additional 172 wanted suspects.
The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Thabo Litabe said 50 suspects were arrested for Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF)-related offences. Litabe said the operations were conducted in partnership with various government departments and law enforcement agencies, including the Departments of Home Affairs, Transport, Safety and Liaison, Social Development and Labour, among other relevant stakeholders.
“The suspects were arrested for a range of offences, including murder, attempted murder, common assault, assault with intent to cause Grievous Bodily Harm (GBH), rape, robbery with aggravating circumstances, dealing in and possession of drugs, illegal dealing in liquor, contravention of the Immigration Act, malicious damage to property and burglary at residential premises, among other criminal activities.
“Led by senior officers from provincial, district and station levels, the operations adopted a multidisciplinary approach to policing, incorporating stop-and-search operations, roadblocks, vehicle control points and searches of premises, persons and vehicles,” he said.
Litabe said in addition, compliance inspections were conducted at hotels, mines, licensed liquor outlets, scrapyards and second-hand goods dealers. He further said unlicensed liquor outlets were also closed as part of ongoing interventions to enforce compliance, curb the illegal liquor trade and disrupt activities that contribute to criminality.
“During these operations, police confiscated various drugs and substances, including dagga, crystal methamphetamine, cocaine and Mandrax tablets, as well as vehicle parts suspected to be linked to criminal activities. Most of the arrested suspects are expected to appear before various courts across the province to face charges relating to their alleged offences,” added Litabe.
The Northern Cape Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Koliswa Otola, commended SAPS members and their counterparts from the participating government departments and law enforcement agencies for their continued dedication, cooperation and commitment towards ensuring the success of these operations. Otola emphasised that sustained, visible and intelligence-driven policing, supported by strong interdepartmental collaboration, remains essential in stamping the authority of the state, disrupting criminal networks and ensuring that communities are and feel safe.
“The SAPS in the Northern Cape remains resolute in its commitment to preventing, combating and eradicating crime in all its forms. These intensified operations reaffirm the organisation’s zero-tolerance approach to criminality and its commitment to the SAPS Reset Agenda, which prioritises accountability, operational effectiveness, discipline and improved service delivery to the communities we serve,” she said.
