Tshwane police sweep leads to hundreds of arrests
During the operation, law enforcement focused on 15 crime hotspots in the east of Tshwane.
Police have intensified their crackdown on crime, with 359 suspects arrested during a multi-agency Operation Shanela held in Garsfontein and Boschkop on September 11.
The large-scale operation, executed under the command of Tshwane District Commissioner Major-General Samuel Thine, brought together a wide range of law enforcement agencies and community stakeholders.
These included SAPS units from across the Tshwane District, Gauteng Traffic Police, the departments of Home Affairs, Tshwane metro police, community safety, and CPFs.
According to police spokesperson Captain Johan van Dyk, Operation Shanela is part of an ongoing commitment to curb criminal activity in the capital city, with the most recent operation targeting identified crime hotspots in the east of Tshwane.
He said the operation unfolded in two distinct phases.
“In the first phase, detectives tracked and apprehended 249 suspects for various crimes. These included serious offences such as four murders, nine attempted murders, four rapes, and 37 assaults with intent to cause grievous bodily harm,” said Van Dyk.
He said in the second phase, uniformed police officers carried out inspections and searches, which led to the detention of 65 undocumented foreign nationals who were handed over to immigration authorities.
Two employers were arrested and fined for hiring undocumented workers, while 39 passports were verified for authenticity.
Altogether, 446 individuals and 195 vehicles were searched during the operation.
Law enforcement also focused on 15 hotspots linked to alcohol-related offences and road safety.
Police inspected 16 liquor outlets, all of which were found to be compliant with the Liquor Act.
Officers recovered 56 litres of abandoned liquor, which was subsequently booked in at Boschkop SAPS for destruction.
Van Dyk said Gauteng Traffic Police and Tshwane metro police officers issued 149 Aarto infringement notices, amounting to fines worth R66 850.
Fourteen vehicles were impounded for non-compliance with the Road Traffic Act, ensuring that unsafe vehicles were removed from the roads.
Major-General Thine commended the operation, saying, “These operations demonstrate our continued commitment to fighting crime in Tshwane. I want to extend my sincere appreciation to all role-players, law enforcement partners, and community policing forums who made this a success.”
He added that the SAPS remains determined to maintain safety and order across Tshwane and urged residents to support police efforts and to play an active role in fighting crime by remaining vigilant and reporting suspicious activity.
Residents can call Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or use the MySAPS App to share tip-offs anonymously.
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