FREE STATE – The South African Police Service in collaboration with various government departments and State-owned enterprises continues to stamp the authority of the State through the high-density Operation Shanela. This ongoing operation, which includes the Department of Home Affairs, Department of Health, Social Development, South African Revenue Service (SARS), and the Department of Basic Education, has yielded significant results in the week of 01 September 2025 to 07 September 2025.
The integrated teams conducted an extensive search of 669 premises and stopped and searched 38,324 individuals. Fourteen roadblocks were also held across the province. These operations led to the arrest of 1,231 people for various crimes.
In a focused effort, detectives conducting tracing operations as part of Operation Shanela II successfully apprehended 330 wanted suspects. These individuals were sought for serious offenses including murder, attempted murder, rape, possession of dangerous weapons, illegal possession of unlicensed firearms, and drug-related crimes.
Following a brazen cash-in-transit heist on the N8 road near Botshabelo, police acted swiftly, resulting in one arrest. During a search of the suspect’s premises, an arsenal of high-caliber firearms and ammunition were seized. This included two AK-47s, five R5s, one pistol, one R1 rifle, and one R4 rifle. A total of 415 R5 rifle rounds, 379 AK-47 rifle rounds, and 39 R1 rifle ammunition pieces were confiscated.
The collaboration with the Department of Home Affairs led to the arrest of 124 undocumented persons throughout the Free State.
During the joint operations, several units from the SAPS were instrumental in the following arrests, 29 for dealing in drugs, 77 for possession of a dangerous weapon, 21 for possession of gold bearing material, six for robberies, 30 for rape, seven for murder, 23 for attempted murder, 317 for assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and common assault, 59 for driving while under the influence of alcohol and drugs
The police also made significant confiscations during the operations, seizing various contraband items, including Mandrax, Cocaine, Crystal Meth, and Nyaope. In addition, nine handguns, 11 rifles, and 1,116 rounds of ammunition were confiscated. Seven vehicles used in the commission of crimes were also seized.
The SAPS remains committed to ensuring the safety and security of all residents and will continue through operations such as Shanela II to work tirelessly to combat crime and bring perpetrators to justice.
Operation Shanela II nets 1231 across the Free State provincehttps://t.co/s6SuCjzn6q#ArriveAlive #Crime @SAPoliceService pic.twitter.com/kXZ772hryV
– Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) September 8, 2025
