Day: October 29, 2024

The South African Police Service (SAPS) has arrested 15 298 suspects through Operation Shanela.

The arrests were made between Monday, 21 October and Sunday, 27 October. The recorded arrests are 2 479 more than the previous week.

Operation Shanela includes 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.

The following arrests were made:

•  3 015 wanted suspects were arrested, representing 1 042 more wanted suspects behind bars than the previous week. These suspects were wanted for various crimes such as murder, attempted murder, rape, business and house robberies.
• 146 suspects were arrested for murder. The majority of these suspects were arrested in the Eastern Cape (37), followed by Gauteng (33) and the Western Cape (30).
• 74 suspects were arrested for attempted murder.
• 213 suspects were arrested for rape. KwaZulu-Natal arrested the majority of these suspects (89 arrests).
• 1 380 suspects were arrested for assault GBH [grievous bodily harm] during this period.
• 197 drug dealers were arrested.
• 1 314 suspects were arrested for being in possession of drugs, with 646 of these suspects being arrested in the Western Cape.
•  123 suspects were arrested for being in the illegal possession of firearms. The majority of these suspects were arrested in the Western Cape (36), followed by KwaZulu-Natal (27) and Eastern Cape (24).
• 492 suspects were arrested for illegally dealing in liquor, with Mpumalanga arresting 124, while KwaZulu-Natal arrested 123 suspects.
• 478 drivers were arrested for drunken driving. The majority of these suspects were arrested in Gauteng (110), followed by the Western Cape (89).

Under recoveries and confiscations, police registered the following successes:

• 132 firearms were confiscated in the past week; 26 handguns were confiscated during police operations in the Western Cape; 23 were confiscated in KwaZulu-Natal, while 19 were confiscated in the Eastern Cape.
•  3 443 rounds of ammunition were confiscated.
•  78 hijacked and stolen vehicles were also recovered, which is 21 more vehicles recovered during

President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed a new National Conventional Arms Control Committee (NCACC) to oversee South Africa’s arms trade, in line with international standards.

The committee, chaired by Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, includes 11 Ministers and Deputy Ministers, who will serve a five-year term, with Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Andries Nel, as the Deputy Chairperson.

In a statement on Monday, the Presidency said the appointments were made in terms of Section 5(1) of the National Conventional Arms Control Act of 2002.

In terms of Section 4 of the Act, the mandate of the NCACC is to implement government policy regarding trade in conventional arms in order to establish, apply and ensure a legitimate, effective and transparent control process, which conforms to international law, and the guiding principles and criteria set out in the same law.

“The committee is responsible for the control and regulation of trade in conventional arms, and the protection of South Africa’s economic and national security interests by ensuring adequate control of trade in conventional arms,” the Presidency said.

The NCACC is also tasked with fostering national and international confidence in South Africa’s arms control procedures.

The committee may conduct investigations, inspections and research related to conventional arms trade within or outside the country as needed.

President Ramaphosa has assigned these responsibilities to the newly appointed National Conventional Arms Control Committee which comprises:

– Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, Minister in The Presidency (Chairperson);
– Andries Nel, Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development (Deputy Chairperson);
– Angie Motshekga, Minister of Defence and Military Veterans;
– Ronald Lamola, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation;
– Thembi Simelane, Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development;
– Senzo Mchunu, Minister of Police;
– Dr Blade Nzimande, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation;
– Parks Tau, Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition;
– Gen (Ret) Bantu Holomisa, Deputy Minister of Defence and Military Veterans;
– Dr David Masondo, Deputy Minister of Finance, and
– Alvin Botes, Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation.

President Ramaphosa has extended his best wishes to the committee in fulfilling their mandate and contributing to South Africa’s commitment to responsible arms control.