Operation Shanela was conducted across the Ekurhuleni policing precincts

Arrive Alive, Safety

190 suspects were arrested for various offences from Friday, 15 May 2026 to Sunday morning, 17 May 2026, by members of law enforcement agencies, including SAPS, EMPD, Gauteng Traffic, security companies, and other stakeholders during #OperationShanela conducted across Ekurhuleni policing precincts.

Amongst others, 134 were nabbed by detectives during their suspect tracing operations, which included 70 for contact crimes, 54 for other serious crimes, 18 for Gender-Based Violence, and five for property-related crimes.

Other suspects were arrested for crimes such as possession of drugs, dealing in drugs, contravention of protection orders, drunk driving, and for being illegal immigrants.

On Friday, 15 May 2026, members of SAPS Ekurhuleni District Infrastructure, SAPS Crystal Park, and Putfontein conducted an illegal mining operation in the Crystal Park and Putfontein areas. The team managed to seize illegal mining equipment such as electrical motors, spades, steel stands, gearboxes, steel balls, bearing stands, crush pots, gas and oxygen cylinders.

In Kwa-Thema, on Saturday, 16 May 2026, SAPS Crime Prevention members acted on a tip-off regarding drug activity at Mngomezulu Street, Kwa-Thema.

Members proceeded to the address and upon arrival, they observed an African male through the back door of the main house counting money and plastic packets containing smaller plastics. When they entered the house, they found other wrapped plastics containing substances suspected to be drugs on top of the bed.

The suspect was then arrested for dealing in drugs and taken to SAPS Kwa-Thema for detention. Drugs estimated at a street value of R10 050.00 were seized from the premises.

The Ekurhuleni District Commissioner, Major General Anna Sithole, thanked all members of law enforcement agencies who participated in the operations for their team spirit, as well as concerned community members for their continuous support in providing accurate information that led to the arrests of the suspects.

#fightingcrime #PartnershipPolicing #DrugsOffTheStreets