Operation Shanela II, the weekly multi-disciplinary, high-density crime-combatting initiative, continues to drive an integrated and strategic national response to criminal activities across the Northern Cape.
The latest phase of the operation ran from Monday, 16 June 2025, to Sunday, 22 June 2025, focusing primarily on reducing contact and violent crimes in identified hotspot areas.
The concerted efforts of all role-players led to the arrest of 218 suspects.
Multiple policing actions were executed during this period, which included vehicle checkpoints (VCPs), stop-and-search operations, foot and vehicle patrols, compliance inspections, and activities targeting drug and contraband smuggling.
Across the province, numerous VCPs and roadblocks resulted in 2,799 vehicles and 4,707 individuals being stopped and searched.
Compliance inspections were conducted at second-hand goods dealers, scrapyards, recycling centres, private security companies, firearm dealers, formal and informal businesses, farms, and mining operations.
As part of broader community safety efforts, SAPS, together the Community Policing structures, representatives from the Department of Education as well as other structures and NGO’s in support of the Safer Schools Programme visited several schools in the districts as a form of creating awareness with regard to crime trends, especially child protection.
In line with Youth Month, SAPS and its partners also hosted various events under the theme:
“Skills for the Changing World – Empowering Youth for Meaningful Economic Participation.”
Operational successes recorded during the week included arrests for:
Murder, attempted murder, rape, robbery, assault, burglary, malicious damage to property, drug dealing and possession, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and harbouring of undocumented foreign nationals.
Detectives executed tracing operations to focus on the apprehension of wanted suspects.
Police further confiscated large quantities of alcoholic beverages, illicit drugs, non-ferrous metals, and cash suspected to be proceeds of criminal activity.
The Provincial Commissioner of the Northern Cape, Lieutenant General Koliswa Otola, reaffirmed that Operation Shanela II represents a strategic realignment of resources and expertise. “Our objective is to mitigate the impact of crime on public safety and economic growth, creating a secure environment that fosters domestic prosperity and attracts international investment,” she stated.