Northern Cape Police arrest 263 suspects as Operation Shanela II crackdown head of festive season. Image Credit: SAPS.
(The Post News) – Police in the Northern Cape have arrested 263 suspects during a week-long province wide crackdown under Operation Shanela II aimed at curbing crime ahead of the festive season.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) said the multi-disciplinary operation, conducted from 13 to 19 October 2025, targeted anticipated spikes in criminal activity linked to increased social events.
“All stakeholders implemented an integrated approach, combining intelligence-led actions with visible patrols to curb crime across all five districts,” SAPS said in a statement.
The operation included stop-and-search actions, vehicle checkpoints, roadblocks, and high-visibility patrols, during which officers searched 7 831 individuals and 3 969 vehicles. Police also inspected numerous premises, including liquor outlets, second-hand dealers, farms, and scrapyards, closing 26 unlicensed liquor premises for non-compliance.
In the John Taolo Gaetsewe District, officers searched long-distance passenger buses to intercept the transport of drugs and other illicit goods.
Suspects were arrested for crimes including drug dealing and possession, illegal liquor trading, robbery, attempted murder, burglary, and assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH). Police also seized alcohol, drugs, dangerous weapons, and copper cables.
SAPS said it would continue to focus on preventing the possession of dangerous weapons and substance abuse, both of which fuel serious and violent crimes.
Community engagement and awareness campaigns were held alongside community policing forums and government departments to address local crime trends.
“A safer society can only be realised through cooperative action between the police, stakeholders, and the community,” SAPS said, adding that operations will continue across the province to stabilise identified crime hotspots.
What is Northern Cape SAPS’ Operation Shanela II?
The National Commissioner of the South African Police Service, General Fannie Masemola addressed an integrated parade of law enforcement officers in Cape Town on Thursday 26 June 2025; signalling the official launch of Operation SHANELA II, a nationwide operation targeting serious and violent crimes in crime hotspots across the nine provinces.
The launch also saw similar parades simultaneously taking place in other high crime provinces namely Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape. Operation SHANELA II commenced at the beginning of this financial year and is aimed at enhancing operational efficiency. This will be achieved through employing advanced strategies, technologies and deployment of additional resources in directly responding to the crime trends and patterns based on the fourth quarter crime statistics.
In addressing members on parade at the launch of Operation SHANELA II, General Masemola urged members to track and trace all wanted criminals (for murder, rape and other serious and violent crimes) and lock them behind bars. “Anyone who threatens the safety of communities and threatens the safety of police officers must be dealt with accordingly,” said the National Commissioner of the SAPS.
Operation SHANELA II was conceived as an operational response to deal with serious and violent crimes afflicting communities in identified hotspots throughout the country. After receiving operational directives and marching orders, the integrated forces embarked on a number of high density targeted operational activities at identified hotspots across the country with specific focus to:
• Murder – Including Gang and Taxi Related
• Car hijacking
• Truck hijacking
• Illegal firearms
• Drug related crimes
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