16 956 SUSPECTS ARRESTED INCLUDING 224 RAPE SUSPECTS AND 152 ILLEGAL FIREARMS SEIZED DURING THIS WEEKS SHANELA OPERATIONS

• Over 16,900 arrests made nationwide, including 224 suspects for rape, and 152 illegal firearms seized during Operation Shanela (05–11 May 2025).
• High-profile arrests include a SAPS trainer and a traditional Inkosi for rape, and suspects linked to journalist Aserie Ndlovu’s disappearance and murder.
• SAPS seized 74 explosives, 86 stolen vehicles, and conducted multiple successful drug and extortion crackdowns, signaling strengthened intelligence and operational reach.

In one of the most impactful weeks of policing operations across South Africa, law enforcement officers under Operation Shanela have cracked down hard on violent crime, drug trafficking, and illegal firearms. Between 05 and 11 May 2025, a staggering 16,956 suspects were arrested countrywide – a sharp reminder that SAPS is intensifying its efforts to protect communities, especially in the fight against Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF).

Among the most chilling arrests are 224 suspects charged with rape and five others with attempted rape. The shockwave of this statistic was further amplified by the identities of two high-profile accused: a SAPS trainer who allegedly raped a trainee, and a traditional leader (Inkosi) from KwaZulu-Natal, accused of raping an 18-year-old girl.

SAPS is also on a relentless mission to rid communities of illegal firearms. In just seven days, officers confiscated 152 firearms, with Mpumalanga leading the disarmament tally at 31, followed by the Western Cape with 19.

Meanwhile, the drug war continues. Police arrested 2,841 suspects for drug possession—1,700 of them in the Western Cape alone. In addition, 256 individuals were arrested for drug dealing, and more than 9,400 mandrax tablets were seized, with the majority again traced to the Western Cape.

Takedown operations conducted in several provinces revealed the breadth and gravity of crimes being addressed. From murder suspects killed in a shootout in Hammarsdale, to the arrest of five individuals in Mpumalanga linked to the disappearance and suspected murder of journalist Aserie Ndlovu and his partner, the list of breakthroughs is both extensive and sobering.

The recovery of 86 stolen or hijacked vehicles, 74 explosives—mainly linked to illegal mining and CIT heists in North West—and the arrest of five extortion suspects at a mine in Limpopo, all highlight the scale and effectiveness of Operation Shanela’s intelligence-led strategies.

This week’s operations demonstrate the SAPS’ commitment to protecting communities, dismantling crime networks, and ensuring accountability—even within its own ranks.