The police’s multi-disciplinary high-density four-day Operation Shanela, which kicked off on Thursday in Kimberley and in other areas, focused on reducing contact and violent crimes, as well as property related crimes in hotspots areas.
Actions and police activities executed during the operations included vehicle check points (VCP’s), stop and searches, foot and vehicle patrols, compliance inspections, drugs and other commodities smuggling.
Nineteen VCP’s and eleven roadblocks were conducted across the province during which 2049 vehicles and 4700 persons were stopped and searched. at least 318 compliance inspections were executed at second-hand dealers, liquor premises, formal and informal businesses as well as farms.
Numerous operational successes were achieved and these include:
- Arrests of 356 suspects for contravening the firearms controls act, possession of dangerous weapons, attempted murder, robbery, assault, burglary, theft out of motor vehicle, driving under the influence of alcohol, malicious damage to property, dealing and possession of drugs as well as illegal dealing in liquor.
- 20 undocumented immigrants were also apprehended and detained.
- 184 wanted suspects were traced and arrested by detective teams in all five districts as follows: 60 in Frances Baard, 24 in John Taolo Gaetsewe, 27 in Pixley Ka Seme, 44 in ZF Mgcawu and 29 in Namakwa district.
Prior to the quarterly review session on 26 /27 July 2023 in Kimberley, the 91 station commissioners from across the province participated in high density police actions in the greater Kimberley area.
The station commanders as well as provincial components were led by the Deputy Provincial Commissioner for Policing, Major General Luntu Ngubelanga.
Numerous seizures including dagga, copper cables, alcohol and homemade brew, numerous dangerous weapons and cash believed to be the proceeds of crime were made.
The Provincial Commissioner of the Northern Cape, Lt General Koliswa Otola indicated that Operation Shanela will continue to stamp down the authority of the state in an endeavour to reclaim communities from criminals and restore the trust of the public in the police.
She also appreciated the efforts of the SAPS members, the external role-players and the community policing structures for their unabated efforts in fighting crime collectively.