LIMPOPO – Limpopo police have intensified province-wide crime-fighting efforts under Operation Retshepeng (“Trust Us”), part of the broader Operation Shanela II campaign, with three major multidisciplinary sweeps conducted across the Sekhukhune and Vhembe districts over the past two weeks.

Lieutenant General Jan Scheepers, provincial commissioner of police in Limpopo, commented on the operation’s results. Scheepers has since been promoted to the position, having previously held it in an acting capacity.

Jane Furse: 107 deportations in single-day sweep

The operation’s first major action took place in the Jane Furse policing area on Friday, July 25, supported by Premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba and Mukhuduthamaga Local Municipality Mayor Clr Merah Mahlase.

The operation drew on units including the Stock Theft Unit, Visible Policing, TRT, POP, Highway Patrol, Hawks, Counterfeit Goods and FLASH, alongside the Departments of Home Affairs, Labour, Health, Social Development, LEDET and Traffic Police.

Officers searched 55 businesses, 45 residential premises, 374 vehicles and 1 218 people.

The operation resulted in 107 undocumented foreign nationals being deported along with 23 arrests for offences including bribery, drug possession and trading without a licence.

Police also seized R7 500 worth of counterfeit goods, issued 58 summonses, impounded one vehicle and closed two shebeens.

Vhembe: 127 immigration-related arrests and repatriations

Five days later, on Thursday, July 30, the operation shifted to Vhembe District, combining stop-and-searches, roadblocks, compliance inspections and wanted-suspect tracing.

The sweep led to the repatriation of 115 undocumented Zimbabwean nationals, while a further 12 foreign nationals were arrested for contravening the Immigration Act. Three employers were also arrested for allegedly employing undocumented workers.

Police additionally arrested wanted suspects for robbery, theft, burglary, assault, possession of suspected stolen property and drug-related crimes, along with further arrests and fines for liquor offences, illegal gambling and road traffic violations.

Confiscated items included dagga, crystal methamphetamine, more than 103 litres of liquor and nine dangerous weapons, bringing the total law enforcement actions recorded to 302.

Sekhukhune: Illegal mining and wanted suspects targeted

The most recent action took place in the Apel and Mecklenburg policing areas of Sekhukhune District on Saturday, August 8, this time folded under the “Shanela II–Retshepeng” banner.

Detectives traced and arrested 26 wanted suspects linked to cases including eight counts of assault GBH, four theft cases, and single cases of rape, sexual assault, armed robbery and stock theft.

A further 121 illegal immigrants were apprehended.

Police also disrupted suspected illegal mining activity, seizing 22 items including jackhammers, generators and spades.

A joint roadblock at Sefateng Mine along the R37 near Tjibeng searched 63 vehicles and 133 people, resulting in 10 summonses worth R21 500 for driving licence violations, an unlicensed vehicle and defective stop lamps.

Police vow more operations to come

Lieutenant General Scheepers thanked the multidisciplinary teams involved across all three operations and said the successes reflected sustained pressure on criminal activity in the province.

“Hit hard on criminals and squeeze every space. Our communities must be safe,” Scheepers said following the Sekhukhune operation.

Suspects arrested across the operations are expected to appear before their respective magistrates’ courts.