Operation Shanela, the high density multi-disciplinary operation, commenced from 11 to 18 June 2023 throughout the province focusing on the reduction of gender-based violence and femicide, property related crimes, contact and violent crimes, the proliferation of illegal firearms, stock theft, drug trafficking, illegal alcohol sales, compliance inspections to second hand goods dealers and scrapyards and tracing of wanted suspects in all hotspot areas resulted in the apprehension and arrest of 137 offenders for an array of crimes.
A total of 1572 disruptive actions and police activities were executed including vehicle checkpoints (VCP’s), stop and searches, foot and blue light patrols, compliance inspections, drugs and other commodities smuggling.
26 Vehicle Checkpoints and 15 roadblocks were conducted across the province during which 2826 vehicles and 6126 persons were searched during 764 stop and searches.
1231 Compliance inspections were executed at second-hand dealers, liquor premises, formal and informal businesses and farms.
Numerous operational successes were achieved:
Suspects were arrested for murder, attempted murder, rape, robbery, assault, burglary, theft, dealing and possession of drugs and undocumented immigrants. One illegal firearm was also seized during disruptive actions.
Suspects were also arrested for the poaching of endangered succulents in the Namakwa region.
In support of Youth month, various schools were also visited as part of the Safer Schools programme and also presented programmes in celebration of Youth Day on 16 June 2023.
Police actions also resulted in the seizure of 240kg of dagga and 18 dagga plants.
Police also honed in on the damaging and tampering of essential infrastructure and arrested several suspects and confiscated 980kg of copper cables.
Numerous wanted suspects were tracked and apprehended for different criminal offences and were also brought to book for evading court appearances and contravention of court orders.
Police confiscated thousands of litres of alcoholic beverages and homemade brew at shebeens and other liquor outlets that were complying with their license conditions.
The successes were achieved in all five districts namely the Pixley Ka Seme, Frances Baard, John Taolo Gaetsewe, ZF Mgcawu and Namakwa.
The Acting Provincial Commissioner of the Northern Cape, Major General Mmantsheke Lekhele appreciated the relentless efforts of all the external departments and crime safety forums and encouraged the public to keep on being the ears and eyes of the police.
She also indicated that the police 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.
