By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
16 April 2025– A total of 1080 suspects were arrested for a variety of crimes ranging from robberies, murders, attempted murders, burglaries, assaults, illegal dealing and possession of drugs, selling of liquor without license, driving under the influence of liquor, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition during Operation Shanela.
During weekly joint law enforcement operations conducted under Operation Shanela, 111 illegal migrants were apprehended for contravention of Section 49 of the Immigration Act and are currently being processed through the courts before being deported by the department of Home Affairs back to their countries.
The North West police spokesperson, Colonel Adele Myburgh said 538 out of the 1080 suspects, were circulated wanted after they were positively linked to the committed crimes through forensic DNA leads. Myburgh said Gender Based Violence (GBV), including domestic violence, continues to be a serious problem and a cause for serious and Violent crimes as evident by a tragic love triangle murder that took place in Blydeville, Lichtenburg on 7 April 2025.
“A man (35) was allegedly stabbed to death by his girlfriend (32), after apparently arriving home and finding the deceased in the company of another woman. The suspect, Mmadira Catherine Monyane, was arrested and appeared before the Lichtenburg Magistrate’s Court on 9 April 2025, charged with murder, where she was granted R500 bail. Her case was postponed until 29 May 2025.
“Members of the public are constantly warned and advised to be vigilant and to take their personal and others safety and security seriously,” she said.
Myburgh further said on 9 April 2025, Detectives arrested two suspects in Extension 1, Itsoseng. She added that, the arrest of the two suspects aged 25 and 41, follows an earlier incident, which started in Bodibe village, next to Itsoseng, when a girl (20), who was waiting for public transport was offered a lift in a vehicle in which the two were travelling in.
“It is alleged that after driving for a few kilometres and not far from her home, the passenger, who was sitting at the back, suddenly threatened the victim with a firearm before robbing her of her handbag and other belongings,” said Myburgh.
She said the victim, who was sitting in the front passenger seat, opened the window and screamed for help, whilst the driver sped off only to drop the victim far away and unharmed. Myburgh said unbeknown to the suspects, one alert member of the public had identified the make, colour and registration number of the suspect’s vehicle and the information was shared with the police, who were already in the area, leading to the suspect’s vehicle being stopped and the immediate arrest of the suspects.
“The accused, Tebogo Peter Monare (25) and Molefe Samuel Motshabi (41), were immediately arrested and charged with robbery. They have been remanded in custody after their first court appearance before the Ditsobotla Magistrate’s Court.
“They are expected back in court on 22 April 2025. The public is advised to report crime at your nearest police station or anonymously through the South African Police Service (SAPS) Crime Stop number 08600 10111 or the MySAPS application. Extortion-related incidents can be reported on the Extortion hotline on 080 091 1011,” she said.
The Guardian 