SAPS officers conduct a stop-and-search operation during high-density patrols under Operation Shanela 2 in the Northern Cape. Image credit: SAPS /Facebook
The South African Police Service (SAPS) in Northern Cape has intensified its fight against crime in the province through high-density operations from 28 July to 3 August 2025, as part of the nationwide initiative #OperationShanela2. The SAPS demonstrated the state’s authority over criminality through the arrest of over 340 suspects across the province for various offences.
Operation Shanela 2 is intended to intensify the police’s fight against criminality. The operation is a joint initiative by law enforcement and government agencies. The operation, launched at the start of the 2025/2026 financial year, is being rolled out through targeted deployments in identified crime hotspots.
The operation is guided by six main crime categories outlined by the National Police Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola, at the launch. These include:
- Murder (including gang and taxi-related killings),
- Hijacking,
- Illegal firearms,
- Gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF), and
- Drug crimes.
According to Masemola, the initial campaign has indicated progress in fighting criminality. Through Operation Shanela, they have managed to arrest over 1.2 million individuals in a span of 18 months. He stated that Operation Shanela 2 will build on those statistics.
In the past week, Operation Shanela in the Northern Cape conducted visible blue-light patrols, stop-and-search operations, roadblocks, and vehicle checkpoints. Through these operations, they have traced and arrested suspects who had been evading the law. A total of 12,315 individuals and 6,803 vehicles were stopped and searched. Those arrested were charged with offences ranging from murder and assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, to drug dealing, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, illegal immigration, housebreaking, and illicit mining.
Compliance inspections were also conducted by the SAPS in collaboration with external stakeholders. Various businesses—both formal and informal—were visited, including scrapyards, liquor outlets, second-hand goods dealers, mines, and farms. These visits resulted in the closure of several liquor establishments due to non-compliance.
In celebration of Women’s Month, SAPS officially launched #OperationBasadi on 1 August 2025. This initiative falls under the broader #OperationShanela umbrella and highlights the critical role of women in law enforcement. It also seeks to empower female officers through increased visibility and leadership in operational policing.
Operation Shanela continues across the country.
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