The SAPS, in collaboration with community police structures and external stakeholders, conducted a week-long operation in the Northern Cape, resulting in 444 arrests for various crimes, including serious offences like murder and rape, and significant seizures of illegal items, while also intensifying efforts against crimes targeting women.
IN A CONCERTED effort to address priority crimes and enhance community safety, the South African Police Service (SAPS) has partnered with community police structures, including the Blue Patrollers, and other external stakeholders as it continues with Operation Shanela actions in the Northern Cape.
According to provincial police spokesperson Sergeant Molefi Shemane, the latest week-long operation took place from Monday, July 29 to Sunday, August 4 and involved a range of law enforcement activities across the Province.
The various actions included vehicle checkpoints (VCPs), stop and searches, roadblocks, foot and vehicle patrols, compliance inspections, tracing of wanted suspects, and awareness campaigns at schools and community outreach programmes at churches.
During the week-long operation, law enforcement apprehended 444 suspects for various crimes including drug dealing, illegal liquor sales, robbery, murder, rape, assault, common assault, residential and business burglaries, motor vehicle theft, malicious property damage, driving under the influence and illegal migration.
This included the arrest of 181 wanted suspects who were traced and apprehended by detectives for serious crimes including murder, rape, assault GBH and illegal possession of firearms.
As part of their operations, law enforcement also conducted vehicle checkpoints and roadblocks throughout the Province. They stopped and searched 2,775 vehicles, checked 5,957 individuals and also searched 83 premises.
Additionally, compliance inspections were carried out at second-hand dealers, liquor premises, formal and informal businesses, mines and farms. These efforts led to the closure of 19 unlicensed liquor premises.
The police also confiscated copper cables, dangerous weapons, firearms and ammunition, thousands of litres of alcoholic beverages and concoctions, drugs and money suspected to be proceeds of crime.
Sergeant Shemane added that in recognition of Women’s Month, the police are intensifying their efforts to combat crimes against women, including domestic violence, rape and assault. Victims are encouraged to “break the silence” and speak out and not shield perpetrators who commit these reprehensible acts.
Shemane reminded the public: “If you see something, say something.”
