SAPS Operation Shanela II: Over 15,000 Arrested in Nationwide Police Crackdown

Operation Shanela II: Over 15,000 Arrested in Nationwide Police Crackdown

South Africa – The South African Police Service (SAPS) has reported significant progress in its nationwide Operation Shanela II, with over 15,000 suspects arrested for various offences between 8 and 14 September 2025.

In a statement on Monday, SAPS confirmed that 15,763 individuals were apprehended, including 2,133 wanted persons tracked down across different provinces.

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Among the arrests:

• 265 suspects were apprehended for rape, including 92 wanted individuals, with 41 arrests in Gauteng alone.
• 160 suspects were arrested for murder, mostly in the Western Cape (41), Eastern Cape (32), and Gauteng (30).
• 143 suspects were arrested for attempted murder.
• 1,610 suspects were arrested for assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH).
• Over 1,000 suspects were arrested for drug-related offences.

The operation also resulted in the seizure of 146 unlicensed firearms and the recovery of 66 stolen and hijacked vehicles.

In KwaZulu-Natal’s South Coast, an alleged hijacking suspect was fatally wounded during a shootout with police and private security. Authorities recovered a signal jammer, an unlicensed firearm, and a stolen Quantum minibus taxi at the scene.

Further arrests include a 26-year-old suspect linked to a double murder in Wallacedene, Kraaifontein, and a 24-year-old suspect accused of murdering a man at the Athlone Magistrates Court in the Western Cape. The latter was admitted to a local hospital with gunshot wounds sustained during a gang-related shootout.

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SAPS described the arrests as a testament to the dedication of officers in preventing and combating serious and violent crimes, emphasizing that each apprehension is a step towards a safer South Africa for all citizens.