Police arrest over 15,000 suspects in nationwide crime crackdown
Over 15,700 suspects were arrested in a nationwide police operation, including those linked to serious crimes.
Image: SAPS
Police in KwaZulu-Natal arrested and confronted suspects linked to serious crimes, including the 2023 killing of police officer, Constable Mnqobi Shange, during the latest round of Shanela II operations.
The province’s actions formed part of a nationwide effort that saw more than 15,700 suspects arrested between September 8 and 14, the South African Police Service (SAPS) has confirmed.
On September 10, the Hawks’ provincial Tracking Team in KwaNgcolosi fatally wounded a suspect during a shootout. The suspect had been linked to the murder of Shange.
“Constable Mnqobi Shange was murdered in 2023 in an apparent road rage incident in KwaNgcolosi,” police said.
Also in KZN, an alleged hijacking suspect was killed in an exchange of gunfire with police and private security on the South Coast. “Police seized a signal jammer and an unlicensed firearm along with a Quantum minibus circulated as stolen,” SAPS reported.
Nationally, 15,763 suspects were arrested during the week-long operations, including 2,133 wanted individuals tracked down in different parts of the country.
Sexual offences featured prominently among the arrests. Police confirmed that 265 suspects were arrested for rape, 92 of whom were previously circulated as wanted. Gauteng police made 41 of these arrests.
In addition, 160 suspects were arrested for murder, with the highest numbers in the Western Cape (41), Eastern Cape (32), and Gauteng (30). A further 143 suspects were taken in for attempted murder, while 1,610 were arrested for assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
Drug-related offences were another major focus. “1,515 suspects were arrested for dealing in drugs, of which 1,250 were apprehended in the Western Cape,” SAPS reported. KZN police accounted for the majority of drug possession arrests, with 394 suspects, followed by Gauteng (319) and the Eastern Cape (259).
Weapons and vehicle recoveries added to the week’s outcomes, with police confiscating 146 unlicensed firearms and 1,083 rounds of ammunition, and recovering 66 stolen and hijacked vehicles.
In Gauteng, the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit arrested a 41-year-old suspected serial rapist on 11 September. “The suspect is linked to 45 cases reported at Diepkloof and Orlando police stations, respectively, while two cases were reported in the North West province between 2008 and 2025,” SAPS confirmed.
In the Western Cape, 12 people were murdered in Kraaifontein during the week. A 49-year-old suspect was arrested for the double murder of two women, while police also made arrests for killings in Wallacedene and Athlone.
“More than 900 illegal firearms have been seized by Western Cape police since April this year,” SAPS said.
Meanwhile, in Mpumalanga, a 32-year-old man was arrested in Nelspruit for trafficking dagga, with an estimated street value of R3.3 million.
“These successes are a testament to the SAPS’s unwavering commitment to prevent and combat serious and violent crimes, each arrest is a step closer towards a safer South Africa for all,” SAPS said.