Operation Shanela, the weekly multi-disciplinary high-density crime prevention initiative, ran from Monday, 28 April to Sunday, 04 May 2025.
The operation remains steadfast in its objective to reduce contact and violent crimes in identified hotspots across the Northern Cape, delivering significant results, including the arrest of over 185 individuals.
Law enforcement activities during this period included vehicle checkpoints (VCPs), stop-and-search operations, foot and vehicle patrols, compliance inspections, and interventions aimed at curbing drug trafficking and other forms of smuggling.
Throughout the province, numerous VCPs and roadblocks were executed, resulting in the search of 3453 vehicles and 6382 individuals.
Numerous compliance inspections were conducted at liquor outlets, second-hand goods dealers, scrapyards, recycling facilities, private security companies, firearm dealers, as well as formal and informal businesses and farms. While several non-compliant liquor outlets were closed.
The police actions led to the arrest of 185 suspects for an array of offences, including attempted murder, assault, burglary, illegal possession of firearms, malicious damage to property, illegal liquor trading, possession of dangerous weapons, drug dealing and possession, illicit mining, stock theft, and immigration-related violations involving undocumented individuals.
Significant quantities of alcohol, drugs, dangerous weapons, and cash-believed to be proceeds of crime-were confiscated during the operation.
Detectives throughout the province conducted tracing operations to apprehend suspects evading justice.
Awareness campaigns and community engagements are ongoing to educate and keep the community informed about crime trends and prevention strategies and precautions.
The Acting Provincial Commissioner of the Northern Cape, Major General Luntu Ngubelanga, commended all participating law enforcement agencies and departments for their continued dedication and collaborative efforts in combating crime.
He also extended his appreciation to the community for their ongoing support and for sharing vital information through the SAPS Crime Stop line (08600 10111) and the MySAPS mobile application, leaving nobody behind in this collective efforts to curb and reduce crime.
The South African Police Service assures the public that all information received is treated with the utmost confidentiality.
