LIMPOPO – The South African Police Service (SAPS) in Limpopo has recorded significant successes following two separate intelligence-driven Operation Shanela 2 operations conducted in the Sekhukhune District between Thursday, June 18, and Friday, June 19.

First operation: 15 arrests

In the first operation, a District Joint Operation Shanela 2 was conducted at Ga-Mpusheng Village in the Atok policing area from 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM. The operation involved various police stations within the Sekhukhune District, supported by K9 units from Masemola and members of Public Order Policing from Burgersfort.

Nationalities of those arrested

The operation resulted in the arrest of 15 suspects:

• Nine Zimbabwean nationals
• Four Mozambican nationals
• One Lesotho national
• One Ethiopian national

Ethiopian national faces multiple charges

The Ethiopian national, aged 43, faces charges relating to:

• Contravention of the Immigration Act
• Possession of illicit cigarettes
• Possession of an unlicensed firearm and magazine

Items seized in first operation

Police recovered:

• An unlicensed firearm and magazine
• Cartons of suspected illicit cigarettes
• A vehicle battery
• Seven jackhammers
• Three generators
• Two shovels
• Electrical cables
• A jackhammer box
• Ten cartons of suspected illicit Remington cigarettes
• A hammer, knife, screwdriver and chisel

The recovered equipment is suspected to have been used in illegal mining activities.

Second operation: 80 arrests

In a separate Joint Operation Shanela 2 conducted by Sekhukhune Sub 1-District, SAPS members from various stations, assisted by the Dennilton K9 Unit and private security companies, carried out operations in the Marble Hall, Matlerekeng and Elandskraal policing areas.

Two trucks intercepted

Acting on further intelligence regarding the transportation of undocumented foreign nationals from Mokopane to Marble Hall, operational teams intercepted two trucks travelling along the N11 before entering Marble Hall. A further 55 suspected illegal immigrants were arrested and detained at Marble Hall SAPS.

Total: 95 arrests

In total, 80 suspected illegal immigrants were arrested during the Sub-District 1 operation, bringing the combined total of arrests from the two separate operations to 95.

Immigration status to be verified

The arrested suspects are being processed in conjunction with the Department of Home Affairs to verify their immigration status.

Court appearances pending

All arrested suspects are expected to appear before the Sekhukhune and Groblersdal Magistrates’ Courts on Monday, June 22.