Operation Shanela hits the streets of Rand West: 77 arrests made
Law enforcement recently launched an operation and 77 arrests were recorded in Rand West City.
Operation Shanela led by Brigadier Happy Xaba resulted in about 77 arrests in the streets of Rand West City.
In the early morning of February 15, law enforcement agencies in the West Rand District launched Operation Shanela as a means to stop criminal activities.
This is according to a statement from the office of the West Rand District Police Commissioner, Major General Fred Kekana.
Of the eight phases that made up the operation, there were two Crime Prevention groups, two Firearms, Liquor, and Secondhand Goods groups, two roadblock groups, one illegal mining, and one vehicle checkpoint. About 77 arrests were effected during this operation of which 34 of them were done by the Vispol group and 43 by detectives.
The Vispol arrests included one person for possession of suspected stolen property, 28 illegal immigrants, three drug-related offences and two dealing with liquor without licenses where 214 715ml of liquor was confiscated and the owners were arrested.
An amount of 40 full mandrax tablets, 18 half-cut tablets and five quarter-cut tablets were found. A Toyota Conquest with registration HGM 870 GP was also impounded to Lenasia for inquiry.
Arrests made by detectives included two attempted murders, one armed robbery, nine assaults with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm, one house robbery, seven common assaults, six house break-ins and theft, two business burglaries, eight cases of theft, two malicious property damage, one case of pointing with a firearm, one contravention of a protection order and three common assault related to domestic violence.
Furthermore, traffic officials issued 14 fines worth R10 000, whereas the Vispol group issued one J534 worth R1 500 for violating the Pharmaceutical Act.
The operation, led by Brigadier Happy Xaba on behalf of the District Commissioner, was supported by the Gauteng Community Safety Office, the Gauteng Traffic Police, the Department of Home Affairs, Rand West Traffic, the Rand West MMC for Public Safety and Community Safety Patrollers.
The operation focused on suburban areas like Randfontein CBD, Greenhills, Robinpark, Helikonpark, Randgate, Homelake, Culemborg Park and Africa Village.
It also addressed rural areas such as Randfontein plots and farms, Bootha farms, Loumaria, Randridge, Braamvlei and Wheatlands. Isolated areas like the dumping site, Pelzvale plots, Mohlakeng Ext 4, 5, 7, 8, 9 and 11 along with Bundus Inn, the area behind Uncle Harry’s, R559 and Flower Road, R24 Brandvlei Road, R500, N12, Aureus, R28, Finsbury, Kocksoord, Rikasrus, Tenacres, Hillside, Middelvlei and Montrose.
Brigadier Happy Xaba thanked all who contributed to the success of the day and stated that all arrested suspects will appear in the Randfontein Magistrate’s Court soon.
