By REGINALD KANYANE
4 June 2025- The police in North West said as part of stamping the authority of the state, the weekly high density Operation Shanela conducted between 26 May to 1 June 2025, resulted in the arrest of 771 suspects for different transgressions across the province. The operation, among others, focused on stop and searches, roadblocks, vehicle check points (VCPs), high-visibility patrols including foot patrols, the tracing of wanted suspects, the confiscation of illegal firearms, as well as visits to liquor outlets and taverns.
The North West police spokesperson, Captain Mpho Manyoba said the police have arrested suspects include 10 for murder, five for robbery aggravating, five for rape, 161 for assault with the intent to do Grievous Bodily Harm (GBH) and common. Manyoba said this includes 28 for burglary at business and residential premises, 25 for driving whilst under the influence of alcohol or drugs and 69 for contravention of the Immigration Act, 41 for illegal dealing in liquor and 30 for possession of drugs.
“Out of the 833 suspects, 558 were circulated wanted suspects nabbed after being linked to the committed crimes through forensic DNA leads. Furthermore, police confiscated eight firearms, 20 fireworks, six television sets, 36 rounds of ammunition, four laptops, liquor and a variety of drugs,” she said.
Meanwhile, the acting North West Police Commissioner, Major General Patrick Asaneng, indicated that the police in the province are going to intensify their operations including the tracking and tracing of wanted suspects who are responsible for the high number of serious and violent crimes. Asaneng said crime intelligence, all detectives and the provincial tracking team, are as part of their weekly suspect tracing operations, instructed to prioritise long outstanding cases in which suspects were linked to crimes through forensic leads, especially recidivists who are linked to two or more serious crimes committed mostly with illegal firearms.
“There will be no place for criminals to hide and a stern warning is made also to those who knowingly harbour wanted criminals or are conduits or enablers of crime through buying stolen or robbed goods, as well as dealing in and peddling drugs that destroy the youth.
“All those who sell liquor without licenses or run shebeens, including those who organised or host events which are in violation of the Safety at Sports and Recreational Events Act, 2010, are not going to be spared as these have been identified as generators of serious contact crimes including assaults, murders, rapes and sexual assaults,” said Asaneng.
He said members of the public and law abiding community members are warned and advised not to visit these unlicensed or non-compliant events or places as they are risking their lives and property by frequenting such places where health and safety regulations are disregarded.
The Guardian 