KwaZulu-Natal sees significant liquor outlet closures in SAPS crackdown
A total of 443 unlicensed liquor premises were closed across the country by the police in recent operations. The majority of these liquor outlets were in KwaZulu-Natal.
Image: Ayanda Ndamane / Independent Newspapers
KwaZulu-Natal recorded the highest number of liquor outlet closures during the South African Police Service’s nationwide crime-combatting operation, Operation Shanela II.
The operation, held between September 15 and 21, saw 443 unlicensed liquor premises shut down nationally, more than half, 264, were in KZN.
According to SAPS, “Recognising the persistent role of liquor in fuelling criminal activity, SAPS conducted 6,416 liquor inspections across the country resulting in the closure of 443 unlicensed liquor premises. The majority of these liquor outlets were closed by police in KwaZulu-Natal (264).”
The operation also targeted alcohol-related offences on the road. “In addition, 954 individuals were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs,” SAPS noted.
The operation in total saw “an impressive tally of 18,232 arrests and [the seizure of] 206 unlicensed firearms.”
Of those arrested, 2,701 were wanted suspects linked to serious and violent crimes, including murder, attempted murder, rape, vehicle hijackings, armed robbery, and illegal possession of firearms.
The detailed breakdown included:
- 153 arrests for murder, with most recorded in Free State (31), Eastern Cape (29), and Gauteng (28).
- 127 for attempted murder.
- 144 for rape and 216 for attempted rape.
- 1,621 for assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
- 1,878 suspected illegal immigrants were arrested.
- 166 for possession of illegal firearms.
- 269 for dealing in drugs.
- 3,049 for possession of drugs, with the Western Cape leading at 1,705, followed by KwaZulu-Natal (394), Gauteng (304), and Eastern Cape (270).
Police also reported significant recoveries, including “206 unlicensed firearms confiscated, 2,488 rounds of ammunition seized during this week, [and] 74 stolen and hijacked vehicles recovered.”
Individual operations across provinces added to the tally. In Mpumalanga, police shut down a R350 million crystal meth laboratory on a Volksrust farm, arresting five foreign nationals and seizing drugs, chemicals, and ammunition.
The province also saw the arrest of three suspects following a deadly shooting spree in Grootvlei that claimed the lives of an off-duty police sergeant and a civilian.
In the Western Cape, four suspects were arrested in Milnerton for extortion and firearm offences. In the Northern Cape, Operation Shanela II led to 305 arrests, 23 liquor outlet closures, and seizures of alcohol, drugs, weapons, and copper cables.
Gauteng police arrested three armed robbery suspects in Tsakane and recovered firearms, ammunition, and cash. In North West, 12 suspects were arrested in connection with murder, kidnapping, and robbery.
In the Eastern Cape’s OR Tambo District, police recovered three illegal firearms in separate incidents in Mthatha, Libode, and Mqanduli.
SAPS said the results underscored the effectiveness of coordinated national operations that focus on tackling violent crime, drugs, and unlicensed liquor outlets.