Persistent efforts by police in KwaZulu-Natal through Operation Shanela and day-to-day policing has seen the arrests of 10 843 suspects and the recovery of 339 firearms with 4 667 rounds of ammunition in the month of August.
The province of KwaZulu-Natal launched the Operation Shanela on 19 August 2023, paving way for waves of police operations, stop and searches as well as well-timed vehicle checkpoints at identified parts of the province. The Shanela operations, which gain momentum from Thursdays to Mondays, are capacitated by routine policing and other spontaneous operations with a sole purpose of maintaining peace, law and order and to ensure that the residents of KwaZulu-Natal are and feel safe
Out of the almost 11 000 suspects arrested, 3 295 of them were nabbed for contact crimes. Among the arrested, 241 suspects were busted for murder, whereas 140 more suspects were nabbed in connection with cases of attempted murder. Cases of assault have been ever increasing in the recent past and police’s efforts to arrest the escalation of such crimes resulted in the apprehension of 2 106 suspects for this category of crime, with 1 506 suspects nabbed for assault with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm.
Two hundred and nine suspects were put behind bars for their suspected involvement in various categories of robberies. The fight against violence perpetrated against women and children was also intensified and 266 suspects were arrested for rape. A total of 1 757 suspects were locked up for drug related crimes and a large quantity of various drugs was seized, whilst 765 persons were arrested for illegal dealing in liquor.
Proactive policing also resulted in the recovery of dangerous weapons, 530 of them being knives. Police will remain relentless in a fight against crime and community members are urged to continue providing the police with valuable information that often lead to the arrest of suspects and the attainment of justice.
Content retrieved from: https://www.saps.gov.za/newsroom/selnewsdetails.php?nid=48212.
