Zuko Komisa

A nationwide police operation over the Easter long weekend resulted in the shutdown of a staggering 541 illegal shebeens and taverns across South Africa. KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) bore the brunt of the closures, with 270 such establishments being shut down by law enforcement.
The crackdown on illegal liquor also saw the arrest of 757 individuals for dealing in illicit beverages. Again, KwaZulu-Natal recorded the highest number of arrests with 270, followed by Mpumalanga with 144 and Gauteng with 142.
Driving under the influence remained a significant concern during the holiday period, with 1,166 motorists arrested for allegedly operating vehicles while intoxicated by alcohol or drugs. Mpumalanga accounted for the largest portion of these arrests, with 265 individuals apprehended.
Furthermore, police efforts targeted drug-related offenses, leading to the arrest of 1,209 suspects found in possession of drugs. KwaZulu-Natal recorded the highest number of these arrests at 393. An additional 249 individuals were arrested for dealing in drugs, with the Western Cape registering the majority of these arrests at 61.
#sapsHQ A total of 541 illegal shebeens and taverns were shut down by police across the country during the #Easter weekend. 270 of these illegal drinking premises were shut down in the province of KwaZulu-Natal.
— SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) April 22, 2025
757 suspects who were found dealing in illegal liquor were also… pic.twitter.com/iMQGoJ8D7C
The South African Police Service (SAPS) highlighted the success of their ongoing “Operation Shanela” in a statement, noting that “just this past week alone, a total of 17,605 suspects were arrested. The highest number of arrests registered a week in months.”
The SAPS emphasized the continued dedication of officers nationwide in their efforts to prevent, combat, and investigate crime. Through various interventions and takedowns, police operations led to the apprehension of 3,662 wanted suspects for serious and violent crimes, including rape, murder, and attempted murder.
Of those, 215 suspects were arrested and charged with rape, with KwaZulu-Natal recording the highest number of these arrests at 67. Additionally, 145 murder suspects were apprehended, with Gauteng registering the majority at 30. Police also arrested 129 suspects for attempted murder and 1,574 for assault with grievous bodily harm.
Efforts to curb the proliferation of illegal firearms resulted in the arrest of 110 suspects for being in illegal possession of firearms, with KwaZulu-Natal again recording the highest number of these arrests at 35.
The SAPS also reported significant successes in confiscating illegal items and recovering stolen property during the past week’s operations, including:
- 128 firearms confiscated
- 4,220 rounds of ammunition confiscated
- 87 hijacked and stolen vehicles recovered
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