SAPS blitz sees over 15,000 arrested for serious offences in the past week

Thousands of serious offenders have been put behind bars over the past week after the South African Police Service (SAPS) intensified its ‘Shanela 2’ nationwide operations.

Police arrested a total of 15,350 suspected criminals, in addition to 1,894 wanted suspects that were apprehended for crimes such as murder, rape, carjacking, robbery and illegal possession of firearms. 176 of these were murder suspects, while 155 were arrested for attempted murder.

The Eastern Cape saw the highest number of murder arrests, at 60, followed by KwaZulu-Natal, at 43.

The week also saw police recover 74 stolen and hijacked vehicles.

In Rondebosch, Western Cape, a stolen Volkswagen Polo was intercepted after a high-speed chase. Four suspects were arrested, while 10 rounds of ammunition as well as mandrax tablets were seized.

Nationally, 88 suspects were arrested for illegal possession of firearms, and 500 for possession of dangerous weapons. 

263 suspects were arrested for dealing in drugs, with the highest incidence in the Western Cape (50). Nationally, police confiscated contraband goods to the total value of R5.13 million. A further 777 suspects were apprehended for illegally dealing in liquor.

On October 2, officers uncovered a fully operational illegal alcohol manufacturing facility on a farm in Faure, near Stellenbosch. Five Malawian nationals, between the ages of 26 and 45, were arrested, and industrial-grade equipment was seized.

"Further investigation led to a Woodstock storage site where a 53-year-old Chinese national was arrested. Pre-packaged liquor ready for distribution was confiscated," the SAPS said.

In Gauteng, Provincial Commissioner Lt Gen Tommy Mthombeni led a multidisciplinary law enforcement operation in Westonaria as well as Bekkersdal. This led to 718 arrests across the province, including 446 that were linked to gender-based violence.

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