Katlego Sekhu

The South African Police Service (SAPS), through its high-density operations known as Operation Shanela, arrested 16,718 suspects during the period from Monday, 6 January 2025, to Sunday, 12 January 2025.
With Operation Shanela, SAPS continues to take a bold and decisive stance against crime in the country.
The initiative’s crime-fighting strategies include tracing operations, roadblocks, high-visibility patrols, stop-and-search actions, and the apprehension of wanted suspects.
All operations under Shanela are led by the Provincial Commissioner in each province.
One notable success involved a joint operation conducted by Sandringham SAPS, Gauteng Serious Organised Crime Investigation of the Hawks, Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD), and a private security company.
This collaboration resulted in the arrest of three Ethiopian nationals suspected of human trafficking, kidnapping, extortion, and contravening the Immigration Act.
Acting on a tip-off from neighbours about suspicious activities at a Sandringham residence, officers discovered 26 Ethiopian nationals held captive inside the house. A pistol and one magazine were also confiscated.
Launched in May 2023, Operation Shanela targets a wide range of serious crimes, including murder, rape, possession of illegal firearms, and drug-related offences.



