Operation Shanela, a strategic law enforcement initiative, continues to assert the authority of the state in the Northern Cape. Weekly disruptive actions have led to significant results, with 336 suspects apprehended across all five districts of the Province in the most recent operation.
OPERATION Shanela, a strategic law enforcement initiative, continues to assert the authority of the state in the Northern Cape. Weekly disruptive actions have led to significant results, with 336 suspects apprehended across all five districts of the Province in the most recent operation.
Provincial police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Sergio Kock said the intensified police operations unfolded from Monday, June 24, until Sunday, June 30. Their primary focus was on curbing contact and violent crimes in hot-spot areas of the Northern Cape.
Actions and police activities executed during the operations included vehicle checkpoints (VCPs), stop and searches, foot and vehicle patrols, compliance inspections, anti-smuggling efforts and tracing operations by detectives.
During the week, 44 vehicle checkpoints and several roadblocks were set up across the Province, resulting in the stopping and searching of 2,643 vehicles and 6,369 individuals.
In total, 13,731 police actions were carried out, including compliance inspections at second-hand dealers, firearm dealers, liquor establishments, formal and informal businesses and school visits as well as farms.
Numerous awareness campaigns were held to promote safer school programmes and educate the community and youth on safety. Additionally, the Provincial Community Policing Board conducted sessions in Calvinia, Springbok, and Upington.
Over 300 suspects were arrested for crimes ranging from murder, attempted murder, robbery, assault, stock theft, burglary, theft out of motor vehicle, malicious damage to property, dealing and possession of drugs, dangerous weapons, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, illegal possession of firearm and ammunition, illegal dealing in liquor, illegal immigration and contravention of the Second Hand Goods Act.
Of the 336 total arrests, 148 were wanted suspects, who have been on the run from the police for various offences. The arrests were executed during tracing operations by detectives in the five districts.
Disruptive actions focusing on the illegal trading of liquor resulted in the confiscation of large volumes of alcoholic beverages and numerous dangerous weapons at illegal liquor outlets and other hot-spot crime areas. Numerous illegal liquor outlets were also closed down during interventions.
The provincial commissioner of the SAPS in the Northern Cape, Lieutenant-General Koliswa Otola, reaffirmed the police’s commitment to robustly prevent and combat crime. She lauded the collective efforts of law enforcement agencies and external stakeholders, including Community Policing Forum (CPF) structures, in addressing crime collaboratively across the Province.