Pretoria - Police Minister Bheki Cele announced that since its inception in May 2023, Operation Shanela has led to the arrest of 551,506 individuals implicated in various criminal activities across South Africa. This nationwide initiative aims to dismantle criminal networks and restore law and order through systematic and strategic law enforcement measures.
According to South African Government Agency, the operation has mobilized police forces across all nine provinces to conduct 69,468 high-density crime prevention and combating operations over the last 11 months. These efforts have targeted areas identified for prevalent criminal activities, resulting in significant arrests including 8,563 suspected rapists and 6,045 individuals accused of murder. Additionally, the operation has apprehended 4,410 suspects for attempted murder, 63,573 for assault with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm, and 37,333 for common assault.
Cele further reported the arrest of 41,191 individuals for violating the Immigration Act, highlighting the government's crackdown on illegal immigration. Road safety campaigns under Operation Shanela have removed 16,073 drunk drivers from the streets through roadblocks and stop-and-search operations. The initiative also focused on illicit mining activities, capturing 2,819 illegal miners and, through 'Vala umgodi', a multidisciplinary effort, apprehending an additional 3,298 individuals engaged in unauthorized mining.
Highlighting the operation's broader scope, Cele noted the arrest of 1,028 hijacking suspects and thousands more involved in burglaries and break-ins, underscoring the comprehensive nature of this law enforcement campaign. Despite the primary goal of arresting suspects, over 150 individuals engaged in armed confrontations with police have been fatally shot since April 2023, including 19 cash-in-transit robbers in a notable incident in Makhado, Limpopo.
The operation's successes extend to the kidnapping domain, with significant inroads made in addressing this pressing issue. The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) has detained 62 suspects involved in kidnappings for ransom, including cases involving Chinese and Mozambican nationals.
Additionally, Cele highlighted the closure of sixteen drug laboratories and the seizure of drugs worth over R161 million. The DPCI's narcotics operations have further removed drugs valued at R506 million from circulation, resulting in the arrest of 148 individuals. The Organised Crime Unit within the South African Police Service (SAPS) Detectives has also conducted numerous operations, seizing illicit substances valued at approximately R121.7 million.