PRETORIA - In an operation that can be only characterised as a powerful display of coordinated enforcement, the South African Police Service (SAPS) has apprehended 14,866 suspects across provinces during the latest week of Shanela High-Density Crime Combating Operations, focusing on major contact and trio crimes. This reflects SAPS’s commitment to singularly and decisively dismantle criminal networks and install order in public spaces.
The men and women in blue, whilst conducting intelligence-led operations across various provinces, achieved several noteworthy successes during the week. These include the following:
•2 192 wanted suspects arrested for various serious and violent crimes such as murder, attempted murder, rape, business, and house robberies.
•173 arrests for murder
•118 for attempted murder
•116 for rape
•1 225 for assault GBH
•519 for dealing in drugs
•2 709 for possession of drugs, WC leading with 1 443 arrests
•Confiscations/ Recoveries
-1 815 rounds of ammunition
-1324 firearms
- 66 hijacked and stolen vehicles recovered.
Highlights of major takedowns and operations:
▶️ Gauteng: Members of the Anti-Gang Unit (AGU) arrested two suspects in Westbury for being in possession of firearms and ammunition during the funeral of a local gang figure known as “Fast Gun”.
▶️ KwaZulu Natal: A multidisciplinary intelligence-driven operation led to the discovery of five-hectares of a dagga plantation which masqueraded as a vegetable farm in Springfield, in the Babanango policing precinct on 16 July 2025. The team arrested 14 suspects and 10 of them were foreign nationals. The South African National Defence Force uniform, machetes, and processed cannabis were seized.
▶️WESTERN CAPE: In a massive breakthrough, police in Western Cape conducting intelligence-driven operation led to the discovery and seizure of R54.3 million worth of drugs in Goodwood, Western Cape -including 145kg of Tik and 16kg of heroin. Two foreign nationals were arrested for drug dealing.
▶️MPUMALANGA: On 18 July 2025, police and other law enforcement agencies conducting a sting operation in Barberton led the arrest of a 32-year-old Zimbabwean foreign national and seizure of explosives, gold bearing material, and large quantities of medicine believed to linked to illegal mining.
▶️FREE STATE: The Bethlehem K9 Unit and Crime Intelligence have successfully intercepted a 46-year-old suspect’s vehicle with Gauteng Province registration on R26 outside Bohlokong and discovered plastic bags containing suspected khat drug weighing 10 kilograms to an estimated street value of R3.2 million.
▶️GAUTENG: In a coordinated operation involving Tactical Response Team (TRT), Crime Intelligence, Gauteng Traffic Wardens, JMPD K9 unit and various security companies led to arrest of four suspects and rescued kidnapped 79 Ethiopians nationals in Aukland Park, on 18 July 2025.
▶️LIMPOPO: On 18 July 2025, the multidisciplinary team led by SAPS Provincial Organised Crime Unit arrested five suspects in connection with the kidnapping of a 42-year-old Ugandan woman in Apel. The team intercepted the suspects upon arrival at Apel shopping mall and safely rescued the victim.
“The dedicated men and women in blue will, without compromise, relentlessly conduct intelligence-driven patrols, roadblocks, in order to foster community partnerships nationwide. They remain committed to the oath they have taken to fight crime - until every community is insulated from criminal activity,” said National Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola.
The men and women in blue, whilst conducting intelligence-led operations across various provinces, achieved several noteworthy successes during the week. These include the following:
•2 192 wanted suspects arrested for various serious and violent crimes such as murder, attempted murder, rape, business, and house robberies.
•173 arrests for murder
•118 for attempted murder
•116 for rape
•1 225 for assault GBH
•519 for dealing in drugs
•2 709 for possession of drugs, WC leading with 1 443 arrests
•Confiscations/ Recoveries
-1 815 rounds of ammunition
-1324 firearms
- 66 hijacked and stolen vehicles recovered.
Highlights of major takedowns and operations:
▶️ Gauteng: Members of the Anti-Gang Unit (AGU) arrested two suspects in Westbury for being in possession of firearms and ammunition during the funeral of a local gang figure known as “Fast Gun”.
▶️ KwaZulu Natal: A multidisciplinary intelligence-driven operation led to the discovery of five-hectares of a dagga plantation which masqueraded as a vegetable farm in Springfield, in the Babanango policing precinct on 16 July 2025. The team arrested 14 suspects and 10 of them were foreign nationals. The South African National Defence Force uniform, machetes, and processed cannabis were seized.
▶️WESTERN CAPE: In a massive breakthrough, police in Western Cape conducting intelligence-driven operation led to the discovery and seizure of R54.3 million worth of drugs in Goodwood, Western Cape -including 145kg of Tik and 16kg of heroin. Two foreign nationals were arrested for drug dealing.
▶️MPUMALANGA: On 18 July 2025, police and other law enforcement agencies conducting a sting operation in Barberton led the arrest of a 32-year-old Zimbabwean foreign national and seizure of explosives, gold bearing material, and large quantities of medicine believed to linked to illegal mining.
▶️FREE STATE: The Bethlehem K9 Unit and Crime Intelligence have successfully intercepted a 46-year-old suspect’s vehicle with Gauteng Province registration on R26 outside Bohlokong and discovered plastic bags containing suspected khat drug weighing 10 kilograms to an estimated street value of R3.2 million.
▶️GAUTENG: In a coordinated operation involving Tactical Response Team (TRT), Crime Intelligence, Gauteng Traffic Wardens, JMPD K9 unit and various security companies led to arrest of four suspects and rescued kidnapped 79 Ethiopians nationals in Aukland Park, on 18 July 2025.
▶️LIMPOPO: On 18 July 2025, the multidisciplinary team led by SAPS Provincial Organised Crime Unit arrested five suspects in connection with the kidnapping of a 42-year-old Ugandan woman in Apel. The team intercepted the suspects upon arrival at Apel shopping mall and safely rescued the victim.
“The dedicated men and women in blue will, without compromise, relentlessly conduct intelligence-driven patrols, roadblocks, in order to foster community partnerships nationwide. They remain committed to the oath they have taken to fight crime - until every community is insulated from criminal activity,” said National Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola.