The South African Police Service (SAPS) in Tshwane is intensifying its battle against crime with Operation Shanela, which took place on Thursday, focusing on high-crime hotspots in the Mabopane and Loate policing precincts.
Police officers focused on removing unlicensed firearms, apprehending wanted suspects, and enforcing liquor laws while also boosting police visibility through the deployment of additional uniformed officers.
Captain Johan Van Dyk, spokesperson for the Tshwane District Police, confirmed that the operation kicked off with a suspect-tracing initiative overnight, resulting in the arrest of 312 individuals for serious offenses.
“Tshwane detectives launched the operation with a suspect-tracing initiative during the night, which led to the arrest of 312 individuals for serious crimes. Among them were 98 suspects linked to gender-based violence, 20 suspects for assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, 1 suspect for murder, five suspects for attempted murder, four suspects for armed robbery and seven suspects for rape.”
In addition, 57 undocumented immigrants were arrested and are currently in detention, undergoing legal processing for deportation.
Van Dyk also stated that a roadblock was set up in Mabopane, with compliance teams deployed across multiple precincts. The operation led to the search of 592 individuals and 217 vehicles, including 33 vehicles tested for stolen property, resulting in one vehicle being confiscated for further investigation.
A total of 206 AARRO infringement notices, amounting to R89,650, were issued, while three taxis were impounded for violations of the Road Traffic Act by traffic law enforcement agencies.
He also added that during the operation, two individuals were arrested for drug-related offences after being found in possession of 41 ziplock bags containing dagga and an undisclosed amount of cash.
Officers also conducted searches at 29 premises and targeted crime hotspots, inspecting 19 liquor establishments. This led to the closure of six illegal liquor outlets and the confiscation of 244,670ml of liquor for non-compliance with the Liquor Act.
Van Dyk further stated that one individual was arrested for bribery, and another was apprehended for illegal gambling.
“One individual was arrested for bribery after attempting to bribe a police officer to secure the release of a suspect. Another suspect was arrested for illegal gambling, and his gambling machine was confiscated, and one suspect was arrested for the illegal possession of ammunition,” said Van Dyk.
Major-General Samuel Thine expressed his gratitude to all those involved in the operation, praising their dedication and commitment to the fight against crime in the Tshwane District.
Pretoria News