The Police Ministry, led by the Deputy Ministers of Police Cassel Mathale and Polly Boshielo, will on Tuesday lead a crime prevention imbizo in communities affected by high levels of crime.
According to police, the purpose of the community engagements is to find lasting solutions to communities affected by gun and gang violence.
The engagements will start at Avondale Primary School in Atlantis on Tuesday and proceed to Sophumelela Secondary School in Samora Machel on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, through its high-density operations, commonly known as Operation Shanela, the South African Police Service (SAPS) has arrested 13 105 suspects from the period starting on Monday, 30 December 2024, and ending on Sunday, 5 January 2025.
“Through Operation Shanela, the SAPS continues to take a bold and decisive approach in dealing with crime in the country. These crime fighting activities include tracking operations, roadblocks, high visibility patrols, stop and searches, as well as tracing of wanted suspects.
“All Shanela operations are led by the Provincial Commissioner of each province,” said the police in a statement.
In this period, the following arrests were made:
- 1 743 wanted suspects were arrested. These suspects were wanted for various serious and violent crimes such as murder, attempted murder, rape, business and house robberies.
- 142 suspects were arrested for murder, majority of these suspects were arrested in Eastern Cape (36).
- 81 suspects were arrested for attempted murder.
- 241 suspects were arrested for rape. KwaZulu-Natal arrested majority of these suspects with 119 arrests.
- 1 646 suspects were arrested for assault grievous bodily harm during this period.
- 473 drug dealers were arrested in the past week.
- 1 337 suspects were arrested for being in possession of drugs, majority of these suspects were arrested in Western Cape (635).
- 126 suspects were arrested for being in the illegal possession of firearms, majority of these suspects were arrested in KZN (37).
- 1 166 illegal foreign nationals were arrested during this period.
- 873 drivers were arrested for drunk and driving in the past week. The majority of arrests were in Eastern Cape (181).
Police registered the following successes:
- 125 firearms were confiscated in the past week.
- 752 rounds of ammunition were also confiscated.
- 51 hijacked and stolen vehicles were also recovered during this week’s operations.
Police in Mpumalanga arrested two suspects, who shot and killed two men while sitting inside a Toyota Avanza in Ermelo. The suspects then fled the scene after the incident.
Police said they managed to trace and arrest the suspects and they are facing two counts of murder.
A multidisciplinary team comprising the SAPS Sekhukhune Task Team, Operation Vala Umgodi members and private security, rearrested Zimbabwean fugitive, Lovemore Musoyi, after escaping from police custody.
The 32-year-old is facing more than 10 criminal cases, including murder, attempted murder, armed robberies, house robberies, business robberies, kidnapping, assaults, stock theft, possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition that occurred in Elandskraal, Motetema, Dennilton and Rakgoadi policing areas in Sekhukhune District.
A joint operation conducted by the Gauteng Counterfeit Unit, Vispol, Commercial Crime, Brand Protectors, and Reservist units resulted in the seizure of counterfeit and illicit goods worth R 627 290 in Midrand, Johannesburg.
Members of the Anti-Gang Unit in the Western Cape arrested a 35-year-old man after found him in possession of an AK47 assault rifle and ammunition.
On 5 January 2025, police in the North West apprehended five suspects in connection with the kidnapping and murder of 26-year-old Lesego Klaas Makaku in Hartbeespoort Dam. The suspects dragged the victim outside a tavern to the street, where they allegedly assaulted him to death.
Police arrested suspects and they are facing charges of kidnapping and murder.
“Operation Vala Umgodi task teams continue to record commendable successes in the country.
“Just last week alone, police arrested 54 suspects for illegal mining, and the majority of these suspects were arrested in the Mpumalanga province. Again, the team deployed in the North West is still monitoring ongoing operations in Stilfontein,” said the police.
A suspect was fatally shot in a shootout with police and one was arrested after a house robbery in Barberton, Mpumalanga.
“The armed suspects held the family, including a nine-month-old baby, hostage and robbed them of an undisclosed amount of cash before they drove away with them with their Ford Ranger. Police spotted the vehicle, and the suspects fired at the police who also returned fire. A pistol with ammunition as well as a magazine were seized in the incident.”
The police said they will continue with their operations “by asserting the authority of the State to ensure the safety and security of all South Africans and visitors to the country”. – SAnews.gov.za
