SAPS nets 50k suspects over festive season

During the holidays, the force increased its footprint, vehicle and air support patrols in hotspot areas across the country. 

As part of the police's Operation Shanela campaign, roadblocks, stop and searches and other operations were conducted at ports,  provincial and national roads and public gatherings spots.

The police's Athlenda Mathe says over 50 000 suspects were arrested in December nationwide.

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Mathe says the focus was placed on tracing unwanted suspects, detecting illegal and unwanted firearms, as well as drugs and drunken driving.

"During the same period, 267 illegal and unwanted firearms were confiscated, and 197 stolen and hijacked vehicles were recovered.

"It is with noting that since the adoption of Operation Shanela in May 2023, we have arrested more than 314,000 suspects, so we are following and implementing an 'all hands-on deck' approach.”