By AGISANANG SCUFF
1 December 2025- As the country observes 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children, the Northern Cape police bolstered efforts to address Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF), contact crimes and other related serious and violent crimes during the execution of Operation Shanela 2. The police said the senior managers both at Provincial and District level, led the high density operations in collaboration with relevant stakeholders from 24 until 30 November 2025.
The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Colonel Cherelle Ehlers said all law enforcement agencies implemented a robust crime prevention approach to curb crime across all five districts through intelligence driven and targeted disruptive actions. Ehlers said actions included stop and search actions, Vehicle Check Points (VCPs), roadblocks and high visibility patrols.
“Elevated traffic volumes were addressed during these initiatives resulting in the issuing of numerous fines for the contravention of traffic laws, as well as the arrest of seven perpetrators for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Road safety is one of the critical focus areas during the execution of safer festive season operations to ensure the safety of all motorists, passengers and pedestrians.
“A total of 9450 individuals and 4862 vehicles were stopped and thoroughly searched, including the searching of numerous premises. Compliance inspections were conducted at numerous second-hand dealers and liquor premises as well as formal and informal businesses, farms and scrapyards. These inspections led to the closing of 16 unlicensed liquor premises for non-compliance violations,” she said.
Ehlers further said measures were intensified at shopping centres and malls to address the increase in retail activity during the discount shopping period to clamp down on ATM-related crimes, shoplifting, theft and robberies. She added that 342 perpetrators were arrested for various crimes including drug related offences, burglary, murder, rape, attempted murder, and assault GBH.
“Detectives conducted over 200 tracing operations to track down and apprehend offenders, who have been evading the law for an array of offences. During the execution of the operations, police confiscated a substantial amount of alcohol, drugs and dangerous weapons as well as illicit tobacco products.
“Ongoing community engagements and awareness programmes focusing on prevailing crime tendencies were held in conjunction with community policing structures and government departments. The 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children that commenced on 25 November 2025, was marked through several awareness campaigns throughout the province,” said Ehlers.
She said the provincial launch was led by the Office of Premier in the Northern Cape and attended by the Northern Cape Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Koliwa Otola in the John Taolo Gaetsewe District. Ehlers said the Northern Cape SAPS will continue to conduct intensified operations across the province to restore stability and combat criminal activities in identified hotspot areas in collaboration with stakeholders and the community.
The Guardian 