Over 14,000 people arrested across the country last week

The South African Police Services have arrested over 14,000 suspects across the country this past week alone. According to police, the majority of the arrests made were for crimes such as murder, rape, possession of illegal firearms and business robberies

Through police’s continued high-density operations commonly known as OPERATION SHANELA, approximately 14 157 suspects were arrested between Monday 05 August and Sunday, 11 August.

During operations. officers conducted more than 250 roadblocks throughout the country. Tracing operations, stop and searches as well as patrols and hostel searches were also carried out.

“Through heightened police visibility, working closely with key stakeholders in the fight against crime, SAPS members continue to stamp the authority of the state!”

During this time, the following arrests were made:

4783 wanted suspects for crimes such as murder, rape, possession of illegal firearms and business robberies were arrested

159 suspects were arrested for Murder

94 suspects were arrested for attempted murder

271 suspects were arrested for rape, 121 of them were arrested in KZN. This is the second consecutive week that KZN police register the majority of arrests in relation to rape cases. Last week, KZN recorded 80 arrests out of the 182 suspects that were arrested through countrywide operations.

98 suspects were arrested for being in the illegal possession of firearms, 24 were arrested in KZN while 22 were arrested in the Western Cape.

Assault GBH continues to register a large number of arrests with 1254 suspects arrested

458 suspects were arrested for the illegal dealing in liquor, 155 of these arrests were effected in KZN while Mpumalanga recorded 113 arrests.

334 drug dealers were arrested during this period. 104 were arrested in the Western Cape, while 64 were arrested in the Free State

1002 illegal immigrants were arrested. 280 of them were arrested in Gauteng while 172 were arrested in KZN.

Police have also made several recoveries and confiscations of illegal and illicit items.

99 firearms were confiscated during operations, and 20 of these firearms were confiscated during police operations in Kwa-Zulu Natal. This is the third consecutive week in which police in KZN recovered a high number of firearms. Last week, KZN police confiscated 47 firearms and in the previous week from, 21 July to 27 July, the province seized 40 firearms.

1 466 rounds of ammunition were also confiscated.

70 hijacked and stolen vehicles were also recovered during this week’s operations

people getting arrested by police — Image via Twitter: CoJ Group Forensic and Investigation Service @coj_gfis

Operations over the past week also led officers to make major takedowns across the country. A Portuguese businessman was rescued in Lenasia, Johannesburg on Saturday morning by a multidisciplinary team led by SAPS. He was kidnapped in July outside his business premises. A Zimbabwean woman who is undocumented has been arrested in connection with his kidnapping.

In separate operations, the DPCI( HAWKS) in the North West arrested seven suspects in Rustenburg and Brits for the alleged theft of precious metals worth R350m. The arrest follows information received about the theft of suspected platinum group material at a mine in Rustenburg.

In the Western Cape, eight suspected Cash-In-Transit robbers were fatally wounded during a confrontation with police in Khayelitsha, Cape Town. Seven AK47 rifles were found in their possession. The suspects have since been released after the case was struck off the court roll.

The Eastern Cape police also responded to a business robbery in the Nqamakwe district. A shoot-out ensued between robbers and police. Three suspects were arrested, while one was shot and killed.

JMPD officers also arrested two women aged 50 and 55 for impersonating SAPS officers. The women allegedly promised unsuspecting victims jobs in the SAPS if they paid an amount of R8000. An e-hailing driver alerted police and JMPD acted on the information. SAPS reminds all job seekers that jobs in the service are not for sale and should anyone demand money for placement in the SAPS, they should immediately report it to the Crime Stop Number on 0860010111.

“Police will continue with their weekly operations to rid communities of crime, communities are urged to work together with the police by joining their local Community Police Forum (CPF) at their local police station.”

Operation Shanela was launched just over a year ago and consists of a various policing operations to tackle crime in the country. Interventions include regular stop and searches, roadblocks, vehicle check points, high visibility patrols including foot patrols, the tracing of wanted suspects with a focus of murder and rape suspects, compliance inspections at liquor outlets and second hand good dealers.