Brainchild of retired general sweeps crime off Tshwane streets
A year since Gauteng police rebranded their crime-fighting effort as Shanela, the operation remains as dogged as ever in its pursuit of justice.
Operation Okae Molao was the brainchild of retired Lieutenant General Elias Mawela, who introduced the five-year strategic approach to crime prevention in Gauteng.
According to Brigadier Matshidiso Kgoadi, the initiative focused on proactive, community-driven policing and has yielded remarkable results in the city.
After five years of the operation’s success, national police commissioner General Fannie Masemola adopted and relaunched it as Operation Shanela as well as expanded it countrywide, beyond Gauteng.
“The commissioner relaunched the operation because it showed good results in the fight against crime in Gauteng,” said Kgoadi.
She said in Tshwane, Operation Shanela targeted high-crime areas, strategies designed to combat criminal activity.
Kgoadi said the operation consists of regular stop-and-searches, roadblocks, vehicle checkpoints, high visibility patrols including foot patrols, the tracing of wanted suspects with a focus on murder and rape, and liquor outlet and second-hand goods dealer compliance inspections.
“After every operation we hold a debriefing session where compliance commanders will provide their successes, to see if we are making progress from the previous operation,” Kgoadi said.
During a recent operation in Lyttleton, 282 people were arrested for various offences, including 75 for gender-based violence, two for murder, one for attempted murder, six for armed robbery, and three for rape.
She said 34 undocumented immigrants and two employers of undocumented immigrants were arrested.
Kgaodi said six people were arrested for possession of narcotics and one for dealing in narcotics.
She said the Gauteng traffic department and home affairs are important for the success of the operaitons.
She said home affairs deals with illegal immigrants.
“They [home affairs] ask for documentation. If the documents are incorrect the immigrant will be detained,” said Kgoadi.
She said someone who employs an undocumented foreigner is not arrested but rather fined R1 500, to be paid at the police station.
Kgoadi as operations manager on the day, she would brief participants to the operation before it starts to ensure they understand operational objectives and that enforcement is done without infringing on citizen rights.
“Firstly, I advise members to have their pocketbooks and write down everything they come across during the roadblocks,” she said.
“We emphasise that when members stop a car they should greet, introduce themselves and tell the driver the purpose of the roadblock.”
She said they provide search warrants also known as Section 13(8) warrants to drivers who may request to see a warrant.
Kgoadi said when an officer searches a vehicle, the driver must be next to them to avoid accusations of theft, planting of evidence and police abuses.
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