Tshwane police arrest over 1 000 suspects during latest Operation Shanela clampdown
Four police stations were also inspected, where mistakes were identified for corrective measures.
Tshwane police and supporting agencies arrested 1 003 suspects during Operation Shanela and recovered seven unlicensed firearms during six operations carried out last week .
The week began with a high-density operation in the Loate policing area on January 28. Law enforcement apprehended 13 undocumented immigrants for being in contravention of the Immigration Act.
Fifteen business premises and six liquor outlets were inspected, with all six being closed and liquor confiscated.
During the searches of locals, one individual was arrested and charged with possession of an unlicensed firearm and one round of ammunition. The firearm will undergo ballistic analysis to determine potential involvement in other criminal activities.
Brooklyn SAPS and its partners conducted an operation within their area on Monday, January 29. Eleven illegal immigrants were arrested, seven liquor premises were inspected and two were fined for non-compliance.
Six second-hand goods dealers were inspected and two were fined for non-compliance with the Secondhand Goods Act. About 71 persons and 66 vehicles were also searched.
A compliance operation was conducted in Garsfontein and Boschkop on Wednesday.
Two liquor outlets were inspected and both were subsequently closed, with liquor confiscated for contravening the Liquor Act.
Garsfontein and Boschkop policing units and multiple stakeholders continued on Thursday and resulted in the apprehension of 55 undocumented immigrants.
A total of 25 business premises were searched and five liquor outlets were closed down while thousands of litres of liquor were seized.
Four businesses were inspected by the Department of Labour, three being issued with contravention notices.
A roadblock conducted during the operation resulted in the issuance of 156 Aarto infringement notices, totalling R104 000.
The operation also involved searches of 2 073 individuals and 592 vehicles, with 15 vehicles being tested to ensure they were not stolen. One was confiscated for further investigation due to suspected tampering with the chassis number.
Detective teams from various police stations in the city apprehended 312 suspects wanted for various crimes, including 92 arrests related to gender-based violence crimes, 3 for murder, 1 for attempted murder, 5 for armed robberies and 4 for rape.
“A suspect was arrested for rape in the Villieria policing area. While searching the house of the detained person, five firearms and 1 903 rounds were found hidden in the ceiling. The suspect faces additional charges of possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition,” said Tshwane police spokesperson Warrant Officer Johan van Dyk.
A liquor and second-hand goods compliance operation was conducted in the Mamelodi East and West policing precincts on Friday.
Five liquor premises were inspected and closed, and the owners were arrested for contravening the act, with thousands of litres of liquor confiscated. Four secondhand goods premises were inspected and fines were issued to the owners for non-compliance.
Akasia SAPS inspected eight liquor premises, and shut two down for contravention. Nine people were arrested for drinking in public and four illegal immigrants were detained.
The Akasia police searched 118 persons and 11 vehicles.
Concluding the week, another Operation Shanela took place within the police precincts of Mamelodi East and West.
This operation led to the arrest of 353 individuals involved in various crimes, including 39 individuals for driving under the influence of alcohol, and one person for possession of illicit cigarettes when 4 480 illegal cigarettes were found in his possession.
Three people were arrested for possession of drugs: 10 ziplock plastic bags were found containing various narcotics. One person was arrested for drug dealing when a plastic shopping bag containing a large quantity of dagga was found in his possession.
Police detained 67 undocumented immigrants who will be deported once the legal processes have been finalised. One person was also arrested when he could not produce a valid reason for having copper cables in his possession.
Detective teams arrested a further 229 suspects on various charges, which include 61 for GBV crimes, 2 for murder, 1 for attempted murder, 4 for armed robbery and 1 for rape.
A total of 25 liquor outlets were inspected for compliance, resulting in eight being closed and the confiscation of liquor.
In total, 984 individuals and 504 vehicles were searched in the roadblock and 23 Aarto infringement notices were issued to the value of R11 350.
“Members from Olievenhoutbosch SAPS were busy with crime prevention patrols when they spotted a suspicious vehicle. While searching the vehicle, a firearm was discovered in the vehicle. The driver could not produce a valid firearm licence or give a reasonable explanation of how he got in possession of the firearm. The driver was arrested for possession of an unlicensed firearm. The firearm will be sent to the forensic laboratories for ballistic tests to determine whether the firearm could have been used in other criminal offences,” said Van Dyk.
Garsfontein, Boschkop, Mamelodi East and West police stations were also inspected during the past week.
“Various departments at the station were inspected, and subsequent mistakes were identified for corrective measures, compliance, and the implementation of internal directives and policies. Follow-up inspections will be conducted in due course to monitor compliance and the rectification of irregularities found,” Van Dyk added.
Supporting agencies involved included the Home Affairs, Labour, Correctional Services and Community Safety departments, crime prevention wardens, Tracker, the Gauteng Traffic Department, local councillors, CPFs, and SAPS members from different units and stations within the Tshwane policing district.
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