Large multi‑agency operation focuses on wanted suspects, illicit liquor and undocumented migrants
More than 300 people were arrested after a focused multi‑agency policing operation in Soshanguve and Loate on 26 September, local police said. The campaign, led by Tshwane District Commissioner Major General Samuel Thine, involved several SAPS units alongside the Department of Home Affairs, Gauteng Provincial Traffic, Tshwane Metro Police Department and Community Policing Forums.
Police described the action as Operation Shanela, aimed at tackling serious and violent crime, tracing wanted suspects and disrupting activities that contribute to lawlessness. Tshwane District detectives carried out targeted tracing operations from Friday evening into the early hours of Saturday.
- 249 wanted suspects were arrested during tracing operations;
- 41 undocumented foreign nationals were detained and handed to immigration officials;
- Liquor compliance inspections shut 11 of 27 outlets and saw 382 litres of liquor confiscated.
Police spokesperson Captain Johan van Dyk said the list of arrests included people wanted for some of the most serious offences: three wanted for murder, four for attempted murder, nine for armed robbery and 77 for gender‑based violence (GBV) related offences. He said roadblocks, stop‑and‑searches and patrols were conducted at identified crime hotspots as part of visible policing efforts.
"Visible policing operations included roadblocks, stop‑and‑searches and patrols at identified crime hotspots," said Captain Johan van Dyk.
Law enforcement also focused on compliance at liquor outlets. Of 27 premises inspected, 11 were closed for various contraventions and police confiscated 382 litres of liquor. In addition, three second‑hand goods dealers were fined for alleged non‑compliance with the Second‑Hand Goods Act.
| Activity | Result |
|---|---|
| Tracing operations | 249 arrests of wanted suspects |
| Detention of undocumented persons | 41 handed to Home Affairs |
| Liquor inspections | 11 closures; 382l confiscated |
| Traffic enforcement | 38 arrests for driving under the influence |
Van Dyk said officers searched 402 people and 167 vehicles during the operation. Traffic enforcement activity resulted in further arrests, including 38 people for driving under the influence of alcohol.
Community Policing Forums and metro police worked alongside SAPS, reflecting a co‑ordinated local approach. The involvement of the Department of Home Affairs saw 41 undocumented foreign nationals handed over to immigration officials for further processing, and one person arrested for allegedly employing an undocumented foreign national in contravention of the Immigration Act.
Residents in Soshanguve say they welcome visible policing but expect follow‑through. Crime operations of this scale can offer only a temporary reprieve unless they are backed by sustained investigations, case management and community engagement to prevent offenders returning to the streets.
Captain van Dyk emphasised that the operation formed part of ongoing efforts to reduce serious and violent crime. He said targeted tracing, compliance inspections and traffic enforcement will continue where intelligence and community reports identify problem areas.
For Soshanguve residents, the immediate outcome is clear: a surge in arrests and the temporary closure of non‑compliant liquor outlets. The longer test will be whether arrest figures translate into convictions and lasting reductions in violence and theft that affect households, local businesses and schools across the township.
Further updates from Tshwane District command are expected as arrested suspects are processed and cases are opened at the relevant police stations.
