Kimberley. Northern Cape police arrested 396 suspects during a week-long, intelligence-driven campaign, Operation Shanela II, which ran from 21 to 27 September across the province’s five districts, the provincial police spokesperson said.
Large-scale searches, patrols and tracing operations
Colonel Cherelle Ehlers said the operation combined high-visibility patrols, stop-and-searches, vehicle checkpoints, roadblocks and tracing efforts targeting wanted persons and those who had failed to appear in court. The activities were carried out in collaboration with community groups, government departments and other law enforcement agencies.
Of the total arrests, 283 suspects were taken into custody on various allegations discovered during the on-the-ground enforcement activities. A further 113 arrests resulted from intensified tracing operations conducted by detectives, which focused on locating wanted individuals and those who had defaulted on court appearances.
| Action | Number |
|---|---|
| People searched | 6 661 |
| Vehicles searched | 3 424 |
| Total arrests | 396 |
Targeting liquor outlets and illegal trade
Ehlers said compliance inspections were undertaken at liquor outlets, second-hand goods dealers, scrapyards, recycling centres, firearm dealerships and both formal and informal businesses. The inspections led to the closure of unlicensed liquor outlets for non-compliance and regulatory breaches, and to the confiscation of alcohol, drugs and dangerous weapons.
“The intelligence-driven operations, decisive enforcement and strong partnerships would continue to be used to combat crime and ensure that offenders are brought before the law,”
The arrests covered a range of offences identified as serious and priority crimes in the provincial policing strategy, including drug-related offences, illegal liquor trading, property-related crimes, attempted murder and assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, Ehlers said.
Community engagement and partnership policing
Police emphasised that the operation included community engagement, awareness campaigns and outreach activities. Ehlers said these partnership measures formed part of the broader SAPS Reset Agenda, aimed at disrupting criminal networks and improving public safety through collaboration with civil structures.
- Multi-agency approach: Operation Shanela II involved government departments and other enforcement agencies alongside SAPS.
- Wide geographical reach: Activities took place in all five Northern Cape districts.
- Mixed tactics: Combined visible policing with intelligence-led tracing of wanted suspects.
Police did not provide a district-by-district breakdown of arrests and seizures in the summary released. They also did not specify the quantities or types of drugs and weapons seized in the provincial statement supplied to media.
Residents in urban and rural parts of the Northern Cape have in recent years raised concerns about organised illegal liquor trading and the distribution of illicit substances, issues police say they are prioritising. The province’s vast geography and low population density present policing challenges that SAPS has sought to address through targeted operations and local partnerships.
Operation Shanela II is the latest in a series of intelligence-led interventions by provincial police. Ehlers indicated that similar operations and enforcement actions will continue as the Northern Cape SAPS works to reduce crime, locate wanted persons and ensure regulatory compliance among businesses.
For those seeking more information about local policing initiatives or wanting to report outstanding information on wanted persons, Ehlers encouraged engagement with community policing forums and local SAPS stations.
All suspects arrested during the operation face charges and will appear in the relevant magistrates’ courts as the cases proceed through the criminal justice system, the spokesperson said.
