Tag Archives: Vehicle Check Points (VCPs)

342 perpetrators arrested for various crimes during Operation Shanela II

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Picture: Some of the drugs confiscated during the raid/Supplied

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.

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1038 suspects nabbed for various crimes

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Picture: Police arresting one of the suspects during Operation Shanela/Generic

By AGISANANG SCUFF

23 September 2025- As part of stamping the authority of the state, the weekly High Density Operation Shanela conducted between 15 and 21 September 2025, resulted in the arrest of 1038 suspects for different transgressions across the North West 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 as well as visits to liquor outlets, taverns, and second-hand goods premises.

The North West police spokesperson, Colonel Adele Myburgh said the suspects include 21 for murder, 10 for robbery, 43 for rape, 275 for assault with the intent to do grievous bodily harm (GBH), 70 for common assault, 12 for burglary at business and residential premises and 19 for illegal possession of firearms. Myburgh said this includes 30 for driving whilst under the influence of alcohol or drugs, 76 for contravention of the Immigration Act, 24 for illegal dealing in liquor and 129 for possession of drugs.

“Out of the 1038 suspects, 489 were circulated wanted suspects and nabbed by the detectives after being linked to the committed crimes through forensic DNA and other leads.

“Furthermore, police confiscated 18 firearms, 82 fireworks, three vehicles, 99 rounds of ammunition, three cellular phones, tablets, laptops, liquor and a variety of drugs and tobacco products,” she said.

Myburgh further said in Lomanyaneng village, a security guard at a school was overpowered by three men, wearing balaclavas in the early hours of the morning on Wednesday, 17 September 2025. She added that the men allegedly pointed the victim with a firearm and tied him before gaining entry into the staff room, where they stole tablets and laptops.

“The security guard was only rescued the next morning by cleaners, while reporting for duty. Acting on a tip-off, the police proceeded to a house in Lomanyaneng on 18 September 2025, and arrested the accused, Mogomotsi Bennet Sebolaneng (37), and recovered three laptops, 15 tablets and a gas pistol, believed to have been used during the commission of the crime.

“Sebolaneng appeared before the Molopo Magistrate’s Court on 22 September 2025, on a charge of business robbery. He abandoned his bail application after it was established that he was out on bail for a similar offence and was remanded in custody until 30 October 2025,” said Myburgh.

She said in another separate incident, an intelligence driven operation conducted at Freedom Park, Phase 1, Phokeng on Thursday night, 18 September 2025, by Rustenburg Public Order Police (POP), led to the search, arrest of two men and recovered two firearms, ammunition, explosives as well as dye-stained money. Myburgh said Itu Monjane (33) and Nelson Lahlewe Huahwa (34), appeared before the Bafokeng Magistrate’s Court on 22 September 2025, on charges of possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition, explosives and dye-stained money.

“The pair was remanded in custody and will apply for bail at their next court appearance. Ongoing investigations by the Murder and Robbery Unit in Nietverdiend concerning the Masebudula incident, led to the recovery of a R1 and R5 Rifle with 25 rounds of ammunition on 20 September 2025. Investigations are continuing.

Meanwhile, the acting North West Police Commissioner, Major General Dintletse Molefe, thanked all police officers and other role players for their continuous efforts to confiscate illegal firearms, which are used to commit violent and serious crimes.

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Two men nabbed for dealing in drugs

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Picture: Some of the drugs confiscated by the police during raid/Supplied

By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

21 September 2025- Two men aged 60 and 63 were arrested for dealing in drugs during Operation Vala Umgodi in Frances Baard District. This comes after the police received a tip-off and identified hotspots such as Phutanang, the CBD in the Greater Kimberley on 20 September 2025. The targeted actions included stop and search actions, Vehicle Check Points (VCPs), visits to informal and formal businesses, shopping centres and high visibility patrols.

The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Colonel Cherelle Ehlers said identified premises were searched and drugs, including mandrax tablets, Tik and dagga with an estimated value of R5 405 and a significant amount of cash believed to be the proceeds of crime were recovered and confiscated.

Ehlers said Operation Vala Umgodi in the Northern Cape continues to intensify efforts aimed at curbing illicit mining activities and related crimes.

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More than 771 suspects nabbed during Operation Shanela

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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.

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More than 1348 suspects nabbed for various crimes during Operation Shanela  

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Picture: Police during stop and search/Supplied

By REGINALD KANYANE

23 December 2024- More than 1348 suspects were arrested for various crimes during the high density Operation Shanela across North West. The multi-disciplinary operations, which was conducted from 16 until 22 December 2024, focused on regular stop and searches, roadblocks, vehicle check points (VCPs), high-visibility patrols including foot patrols.

The North West police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Sam Tselanyane said this includes the tracing of wanted suspects, the confiscation of illegal firearms, as well as visits to liquor outlets and taverns.

Tselanyane said for the period mentioned, a total of 10 suspects were arrested for murder, 12 for robbery aggravating (armed robbery), 8 for rape, 234 for assault with the intent to do Grievous Bodily Harm (GBH), 38 for burglary at business and residential premises, 79 for driving whilst under the influence of alcohol or drugs and 113 for contravention of the Immigration Act.

“Furthermore, 35 suspects were arrested for illegal dealing in liquor and 79 for possession of drugs. Nine firearms, consisting of 5 handguns and 4 shotguns, were removed from the wrong hands and two suspects were arrested for illegal possession of firearms.

“The confiscations include among others, 652 packets of tobacco products, 81 rounds of ammunition, 712 ecstasy tablets and two suspected stolen vehicles,” he said.

Tselanyane further said high density Operation Shanela, that is inclusive of the safer festive season operations, continues to stamp the authority of the state when a significant number of suspects were brought to book.

Meanwhile, the acting North West Police Commissioner, Major General Patrick Asaneng, reiterated that the heightened police presence, especially during this time of the year, will foster a sense of trust among community members, contributing to the ongoing crime prevention strategies of Operation Shanela.

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