By BAKANG MOKOTO
23 June 2025- More than 218 suspects were arrested in Northern Cape for various crimes during the concerted efforts of Operation Shanela II, which is a weekly multi-disciplinary, high-density crime-combatting initiative. The police said the operation will continue to drive an integrated and strategic national response to criminal activities across the Northern Cape.
The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel, Sergio Kock said the latest phase of the operation ran from 16 until 22 June 2025 and focused primarily on reducing contact and violent crimes in identified hotspot areas. Kock said the policing actions were executed during this period, which included vehicle checkpoints (VCPs), stop-and-search operations, foot and vehicle patrols, compliance inspections, and activities targeting drug and contraband smuggling.
“Across the province, numerous VCPs and roadblocks resulted in 2,799 vehicles and 4,707 individuals being stopped and searched. Compliance inspections were conducted at second-hand goods dealers, scrapyards, recycling centers, private security companies, firearm dealers, formal and informal businesses.
“This includes farms and mining operations. As part of broader community safety efforts, SAPS, together the Community Policing structures, representatives from the Department of Education, as well as other structures and NGO’s in support of the Safer Schools Programme visited several schools in the districts as a form of creating awareness with regard to crime trends, especially child protection,” said Kock.
He further said in line with Youth Month, SAPS and its partners also hosted various events under the theme: “Skills for the Changing World – Empowering Youth for Meaningful Economic Participation.” Kock added that, operational successes recorded during the week included arrests for murder, attempted murder, rape, robbery,
assault, burglary, malicious damage to property,
drug dealing and possession,
driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and
harboring of undocumented foreign nationals.
“Detectives executed tracing operations to focus on the apprehension of wanted suspects.
“The police further confiscated large quantities of alcoholic beverages, illicit drugs, non-ferrous metals, and cash suspected to be proceeds of criminal activity,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Northern Cape Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Koliswa Otola, reaffirmed that Operation Shanela II represents a strategic realignment of resources and expertise.
“Our objective is to mitigate the impact of crime on public safety and economic growth, creating a secure environment that fosters domestic prosperity and attracts international investment,” she stated,” she said.
The Guardian 