Tag Archives: Operation Shanela

244 suspects nabbed during Operation Shanela

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Picture: Police busy with stop and search during Operation Shanela/Supplied

By AGISANANG SCUFF

9 June 2025- The police in Northern Cape said high density multi-disciplinary operation, Operation Shanela, remains steadfast and intentional in its quest to stabilize crime in high crime areas throughout the province. The police said a week long operations in the province, has netted 244 persons for various crimes including murder, attempted murder, rape, assault GBH, dealing in drugs and illegal dealing in liquor.

The Northern Cape police spokesperson,

Brigadier Mashay Gamieldien said detectives also executed tracing operations during which 63 wanted suspects were apprehended for evading arrests or failing to honour court appearances. Gamieldien said compliance inspections at numerous liquor outlets, second-hand dealers, recyclers, informal business establishments, hostels and unlicensed liquor outlets were conducted.

“Disruptive actions included roadblocks, VCPs, intensified blue light patrols, high visibility actions at shopping malls and complexes. Large volumes of alcoholic beverages were seized, while homebrewed concoctions were destroyed during compliance inspections at illegal liquor outlets.

“Drugs were also seized during stop and searches as well raids at identified locations. This week also seen numerous social crime prevention initiatives and programmes conducted at schools as part of the Child Protection Week campaign,” she said.

Gamieldien further said police convened community meetings to encourage collaboration between law enforcement and the community to prevent and combat crime. She added that, illicit cigarettes were also seized during a joint operation on 6 June 2025, in Rosedale amounting to almost R1.8 million.

Meanwhile, the Northern Cape Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Koliswa Otola and the Northern Cape MEC for Transport, Safety and Liaison, Limakatso Koloi, together with stakeholders and departments hosted a very successful Crime Indaba in Mothibistad. Otola cited that, Operation Shanela will continue to promote better relationships between law enforcement and the community.

“We encourage cooperation and collaboration in crime prevention efforts. We highly appreciate and commend the support and assistance of all external stakeholders in this collective fight against crime,” she said.

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Operation Shanela continues to produce positive results

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Picture: The police during Operation Shanela/Supplied

By OBAKENG MAJE

5 May 2025- Operation Shanela, the weekly multi-disciplinary high-density crime prevention initiative, ran from 28 April until 4 May 2025. The operation remains steadfast in its objective to reduce contact and violent crimes in identified hotspots across the Northern Cape, delivering significant results, including the arrest of over 185 individuals.

The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel, Sergio Kock said law enforcement activities during this period included vehicle checkpoints (VCPs), stop-and-search operations, foot and vehicle patrols, compliance inspections, and interventions aimed at curbing drug trafficking and other forms of smuggling. Kock said throughout the province, numerous VCPs and roadblocks were executed, resulting in the search of 3453 vehicles and 6382 individuals.

“Numerous compliance inspections were conducted at liquor outlets, second-hand goods dealers, scrapyards, recycling facilities, private security companies, firearm dealers, as well as formal and informal businesses and farms. 

“Several non-compliant liquor outlets were closed. The police actions led to the arrest of 185 suspects for an array of offences, including attempted murder, assault, burglary, illegal possession of firearms, malicious damage to property, illegal liquor trading, possession of dangerous weapons, drug dealing and possession, illicit mining, stock theft, and immigration-related violations involving undocumented individuals,” he said.

Kock further said significant quantities of alcohol, drugs, dangerous weapons, and cash—believed to be proceeds of crime—were confiscated during the operation. He added that detectives throughout the province conducted tracing operations to apprehend suspects evading justice.

“Awareness campaigns and community engagements are ongoing to educate and keep the community informed about crime trends and prevention strategies and precautions,” said Kock.

Meanwhile, the acting Northern Cape Police Commissioner, Major General Luntu Ngubelanga, commended all participating law enforcement agencies and departments for their continued dedication and collaborative efforts in combating crime. Ngubelanga also extended his appreciation to the community for their ongoing support and for sharing vital information through the SAPS Crime Stop line (08600 10111) and the MySAPS mobile application, leaving nobody behind in this collective efforts to curb and reduce crime.

“The SAPS assures the public that all information received is treated with the utmost confidentiality,” he said.

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More than 2089 persons stopped and searched during Operation Shanela  

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Picture: Some of dagga confiscated by police during operation/Supplied

By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

17 November 2024- More than 2089 persons and 4063 vehicles were stopped and searched for the multi-disciplinary high density operation, Operation Shanela, that commenced on 11 until 17 November 2024. The Northern Cape police in collaboration with other government departments, boldly approached priority crimes, such as firearms, murder, rape and robberies.

The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Colonel Cherelle Ehlers said disruptive actions included roadblocks, vehicle check points, high visibility patrols, and stop and search actions, which resulted in the search of 4063 persons and 2089 vehicles.

“Compliance inspections were conducted at liquor outlets, second-hand goods dealers, scrapyards and recyclers. In an effort to promote food safety, inspections were intensified at informal businesses and spaza shops.

“Inspections led to the closure of 18 unlicensed liquor outlets and the confiscation of a significant amount of alcohol. Drugs, dangerous weapons and money believed to be the proceeds of crime were seized,” she said.

Ehlers further said police together with community policing structures, reached out to communities to create awareness regarding tuck shop operating times, sale of expired goods, rural safety and school safety,

She added that communities are encouraged to share valuable information that could lead to the arrest of perpetrators and to continue aiding the police by exposing criminals.

“Information can be reported via MySAPS app or 08600 10111,” said Ehlers.

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More than 800 suspects nabbed for various crimes during Operation Shanela 

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By OBAKENG MAJE 

More than 800 suspects have been arrested for various crimes during a weekly high density operation, Operation Shanela, which was conducted between 18 and 21 April 2024. The suspects were arrested amongst others, for rape, murder, assault Grievous Bodily Harm (GBH), malicious damage to property, burglary residential and business premises. 

The North West police spokesperson, Lieutenant Col, Amanda Funani said this includes possession of drugs, theft out of/from motor vehicles and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. 

Funani further said of the 843 arrested suspects, 335 were wanted for contact crimes like murder, attempted murder, rape, assault with intent to do GBH, assault common, house robbery and business robbery, while 363 were held during detectives’ suspect raiding operations.   

“In addition, 59 suspected undocumented persons were taken in for processing. The arrests were effected through execution of several actions, which included stop and searches, road blocks, vehicle check points, visiting and inspecting of licensed liquor premises. 

“The action includes raids at the second-hand goods dealers, tracing of wanted suspects and many others.  The operations also culminated in the confiscation of a variety of drugs, dangerous weapons, 13 cell phones, copper cables, six live rounds of ammunition, three firearms, liquor and three vehicles,” she said. 

Funani added that during the operations, 13 illegal liquor outlets or shebeens were shut down. 

She said in Mahikeng, a cordon and search operation was conducted at the Bradford Park Taxi Rank on 19 April 2024, where 42 suspects were apprehended for possession of drugs, selling liquor without licences, possession of dangerous weapon, possession of illicit cigarettes, possession of suspected stolen property, assault GBH, assault common, rape, malicious damage to property and burglary business and residential.

Meanwhile, the North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, commended all the units and other role players. Kwena reiterated that those who commit crimes will not be spared.

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