Johannesburg: AfricUpdate – News Desk
With the aim of ensuring safety and security of all citizens, the operations conducted under the Safer Festive Season Operation Shanela II, between Monday, 20 and Sunday, 27 October 2025, across the province resulted in the arrest of 1 139 suspects.
Through the execution of actions such as vehicle check points (VCP’s), stops and searches, foot and vehicle patrols, compliance inspections at second hand dealers, scrapyards, recyclers, private security, firearm dealers, formal and informal businesses, and farms; copper cables, explosives, tobacco products, liquor and a variety of drugs were seized.
In addition, the operations led to apprehension of 33 illegal migrants. 480 out of the 1 139 arrests were for circulated wanted suspects who were linked to the committed crimes through forensic DNA leads. The suspects, among others, included those arrested for rape and attempted rape, assault with the intent to do grievous bodily harm and common, burglary business and residential, murder and attempted murder, driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, for possession of drugs, and illegal dealing in liquor.
