Top cop leads local festive season operation in Germiston
The SAPS held its Safer Festive Season Operation Shanela in Germiston and Primrose.
Gauteng provincial police commissioner Lieutenant General Tommy Mthombeni led the Safer Festive Season Operation Shanela in Germiston and Primrose on December 5.
The operation, conducted alongside Ekurhuleni district commissioner Major General Anna Sithole, Gauteng Community Policing Board chairperson Thokozani Masilela, and Department of Community Safety director Jeff Xaba, targeted high-crime areas with a focus on illegal mining, vehicle-related crimes and unlicensed businesses.
The operation, which included roadblocks, raids and community engagements, yielded significant results.
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The roadblocks on Pretoria Road in Primrose, led by Mthombeni and Sithole, focused on stop-and-search, vehicle inspections and civilian fingerprint vetting to identify wanted suspects.
In Primrose’s Makause informal settlement, officers acting on an intelligence tip-off dismantled illegal mining operations, uncovering hidden mining equipment at a facility in the Stanhope Hostel.
“We know illegal mining, homicide, assault and car hijackings are major concerns in these areas. By deploying additional resources, we aim to restore safety and confidence in these communities,” said Mthombeni.
The operation also targeted unlicensed liquor outlets and spaza shops. It raised crime awareness at shopping hubs like Golden Walk Shopping Centre in Germiston and the Primrose SPAR.
The SAPS reported over 50 arrests during the operation for offences including drug dealing, possession of illicit goods and illegal immigration.
Detectives working ahead of the operation arrested 1 035 people for various crimes, including 236 related to GBV.
Mthombeni highlighted the illegal mining syndicates’ increasing sophistication.
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“The equipment seized, including large generators, is advanced and costly. We must ramp up our efforts to combat this growing threat,” Mthombeni said.
He also confirmed that the SAPS had distributed 209 vehicles across the province to bolster its readiness during the festive season.
“We are operationally prepared, with foot soldiers and patrollers deployed based on crime statistics and community needs.
“This operation sends a strong message to criminals – we are here, not just for the festive season but all year round.”
The commissioner urged residents to continue working with law enforcement, citing recent successes driven by community intelligence, such as the recovery of firearms and the rescue of hostages in Kwa-Thema.
