Operation Shanela nets over 500 000 suspects

Police Minister Bheki Cele says 551 506 suspects have been arrested for various crimes across the country since May 2023 when Operation Shanela was introduced.

“Over 500 000 suspected criminals have been removed from society  and brought before the courts to answer for their alleged crimes,” Cele said.

Addressing media in Pretoria on Sunday on the Police Take Down Successes of Police Counter Operations , Cele said police on the ground are each week pushing back on crime through high density operations in identified high crime areas across the country through Operation Shanela.

“Officers in all nine provinces, led by the respective Provincial Commissioners, have conducted almost 70 000 (69 468) high density crime prevention and combating operations in the last 11 months,” Cele said.

The countrywide high-density operations have resulted in the arrest of 8 563 suspected rapists and 6 045 murder suspects.

“[A total of] 4 410 suspects have been arrested for attempted murder. Police officers have arrested 63 573 assault GBH [grievous bodily harm] suspects and 37 333 suspects accused of common assault.

“[A total of] 41 191 suspects have been arrested for the Contravention of the Immigration Act and were found to be in the country illegally, [while] 16 073 drunk drivers were taken off our roads and arrested through various roadblocks and stop-and-searches during simultaneous countrywide operations.

 “[A total of] 2 819 illegal miners involved in illicit mining were also caught and taken through the court processes,” Cele said.

Under operation ‘Vala umgodi’, a multidisciplinary operation involving various government departments such as the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy, 3 298 illegal miners were arrested.

Cele said 1 028 hijacking suspects have been arrested over the past 11 months and 3 670 suspects were nabbed and face business burglary charges, while a further 10 743 suspects were arrested for breaking and entering into houses.  

“Working jointly with local, provincial and national traffic police and other sister departments, the focus of Operation Shanela remains the prevention of crime,” the Minister said.

Over 150 suspects shot and killed by police

Cele said over 150 suspects were shot and killed from April 2023 to date.

This figure, according to Cele, includes the September 2023 fatal shooting of 19 cash-in-transit (CIT) suspects in Makhado, Limpopo, who engaged in a gun battle with police instead of surrendering.

Cele said while it is the aim of the police to arrest suspects, some heavily armed suspected criminals choose to engage the police in a gun battle and police respond accordingly.

“Police have and will come out on top during these takedowns. In April 2023, 10 heavily armed CIT-related robbers were shot and killed during a confrontation with police in Sebokeng in Gauteng province,” Cele said.

He noted that the kidnapping of members of the public and influential individuals, as well as businesspersons, remains a concern.

“The responses by the police to this crime is, however, encouraging and sizable inroads are being made,” he said.

The Minister said the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) has arrested 62 suspects involved in kidnappings for ransom from April to date.

“Police operations have also led to the arrest of 55 suspects for the kidnapping of Chinese nationals in the country. Five suspects have been arrested for their role in the kidnapping of Mozambican nationals.

“The DPCI has also undertaken significant takedown operations targeting various criminal syndicates in the past 11 months.

“These operations have resulted in the interception of 14 identified targets across a range of illicit activities including theft, fraud, drug trafficking, money laundering and contraventions of financial regulations.”

Assets, with an estimated value of R6.2 million, were seized from April 2023 to date. Sixteen drug labs, with drugs valued over R161 million, were also shut down during this time.

Additionally, 20 suspects were apprehended in connection with drug-related offences.

Cele said in separate operations targeting narcotics, led by the DPCI, drugs valued at over R506 million were taken out of circulation and 148 suspects were apprehended through policing operations.

“Added to the work of the DPCI, the Organised Crime Unit — within the Detectives of the SAPS — conducted numerous multi-disciplinary takedown operations focusing on drugs. Illicit substances such as mandrax, cocaine, heroin and magic mushrooms, with an estimated street value of R121 700 000, were seized,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za