Photo: Lieutenant Colonel Amanda Van Wyk, SAPS national spokesperson
In a show of intensified policing and strategic enforcement, law enforcement agencies across South Africa have arrested more than 17,000 individuals in the latest nationwide rollout of Operation Shanela 2. The sweeping crackdown, conducted over the past week, reflects the South African Police Service’s firm stance on tackling serious and violent crime.
Among those taken into custody were nearly 200 suspects linked to murder cases. Of these, 63 were wanted fugitives who were traced and arrested in various parts of the country. The highest number of arrests in this category were recorded in Gauteng and the Eastern Cape, with 41 and 40 arrests respectively. Police confirmed that the use of firearms continues to be the most prevalent method in the commission of such crimes, particularly murder.
According to SAPS National spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Amanda Van Wyk, police seized 123 unlicensed firearms during the operation, including handguns, shotguns, and rifles, as part of their concerted effort to remove illegal weapons from circulation. This latest recovery follows the destruction of 12,499 firearms earlier this year—part of SAPS’s ongoing firearm destruction initiative, which has seen over 292,000 firearms destroyed over the past six years.
Efforts to dismantle organised criminal networks also saw hundreds of arrests for serious offences, including attempted murder, rape, sexual assault, drug trafficking, and drug possession. In just one week, 335 suspects were arrested on rape charges, and a further 155 were taken into custody for attempted murder. Drug-related arrests remained high, with 279 individuals arrested for dealing and over 3,000 arrested for possession, particularly in provinces such as the Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, and the Eastern Cape.
Police also reported a significant haul of illegal items and contraband. Nearly 1,000 dangerous weapons were confiscated nationwide, along with over 1,600 rounds of ammunition. In addition, 53 stolen or hijacked vehicles were recovered during routine operations and targeted interventions.
Several notable successes were reported across the provinces. In the North West, police confiscated over 86,000 counterfeit goods with an estimated value exceeding R260 million during coordinated takedown operations. In KwaZulu-Natal, a suspect was arrested in the Amajuba District after being found in possession of a stolen vehicle, unlicensed firearms, and pieces of police uniform—thanks to the vigilance of an off-duty officer and a multi-agency collaboration involving the Road Traffic Inspectorate and private security.
In Gauteng, a high-intensity shootout in Atteridgeville on 23 September 2025 ended with three suspects fatally wounded and two others injured. The suspects, allegedly linked to a string of hijackings around Pretoria, were intercepted by the SAPS Highway Patrol and private security teams acting on tip-offs. Police recovered unlicensed firearms, ammunition, signal jammers, and equipment used in vehicle-related crimes.
In the Free State, Reitz police made seven arrests following the brutal murder of a 23-year-old man in Petsana. The victim and another man were accused of stealing a low-value electricity cable and were subjected to a violent mob assault. Tragically, the victim later succumbed to his injuries, while the second individual managed to escape.
The SAPS has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting communities and ensuring perpetrators of crime face justice. Police leadership has urged the public to continue working with law enforcement by reporting suspicious activity and providing information that may assist in ongoing investigations. According to police, each successful arrest marks progress in building safer, crime-free communities across South Africa.
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