ALEXANDRA, GAUTENG — A massive law enforcement initiative dubbed Operation Shanela has been launched in Alexandra, as the South African Police Service (SAPS) intensifies its crackdown on violent crime, vehicle hijackings, and illegal activities in the township.
Gauteng Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Tommy Mthombeni is spearheading the operation on the ground, directing extensive stop-and-search operations aimed at checking motorists and curbing lawlessness. The targeted township has recently recorded some of the highest vehicle hijacking figures in the country, alongside persistent incidents of murder, robbery, and assault.
Highlighting the severity of the situation, statistics from the last financial year reveal that the area recorded approximately 5,700 reported crimes. Of those, about 2,800 were classified as contact crimes—offenses involving direct violence against people. Additionally, the township recorded roughly 122 murders during that same period.
The current roadblock operations in Alexandra have already yielded immediate results. According to Mthombeni, police have arrested 15 individuals for driving under the influence of alcohol, detained 16 illegal immigrants, and shut down two illegal liquor outlets, commonly known as shabeens, which are often linked to local crime generators.
The crackdown in Alexandra is part of a broader, coordinated provincial effort that began with targeted suspect raids the previous day. During those initial sweeps, authorities arrested 717 suspects, including 138 individuals linked to gender-based violence.
Furthermore, police are making significant inroads into combating illegal mining operations. In a recent sweep in Musina, authorities arrested at least 123 suspected illegal miners. The majority of the suspects are foreign nationals, primarily from Zimbabwe and Lesotho. During the raid, police successfully recovered ammunition.
The multi-agency task team is also tackling organized and violent crimes such as kidnapping. In a recent success driven by crime intelligence-led operations, police arrested three suspects in connection with a kidnapping incident and successfully recovered one of the stolen vehicles used in the crime.
Mthombeni emphasized that these stringent law enforcement measures and heightened police visibility are designed to address the root causes of crime and ensure that local communities feel safe. Operations and roadblocks will remain active throughout the night as authorities continue to enforce the law across the province.
