Operation Shanela has once again proven that the fight against crime is being won in South Africa. In a sweeping show of force and resolve, the South African Police Service (SAPS) made a major breakthrough in its relentless fight against crime. Through the intensified rollout of Operation Shanela, nearly 14,000 suspects were arrested in just one week, revealing the scale and power of the campaign to restore law
and order across the country.
Operation Shanela latest stats
Announced by SAPS headquarters in Pretoria on Tuesday 17 June 2025, the operation’s latest statistics are staggering. A total of 13 901 arrests were made between 9 to 15 June, including 145 rape suspects, 171 for murder, and over 1800 wanted criminals, many linked to serious and violent offences. “Police have warned they will continue with their operations by asserting the authority of the State to ensure the safety and security of all South Africans,” said a police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Vincent Mukhathi.
Operation Shanela is intensifying
“These crime-fighting activities include tracking operations, roadblocks, high visibility patrols, stop and searches as well as tracing of wanted suspects,” explained Lt. Colonel, Mukhathi. He made it clear that Operation Shanela is far from over. “We will not stop. We are intensifying,” he added.
Guns, drugs and high-speed takedowns
Police confiscated 122 illegal firearms and 1,053 rounds of ammunition, striking a blow to violent syndicates operating in various provinces. KwaZulu-Natal led in murder arrests with 52 suspects, while Gauteng followed closely with 41. When it comes to attempted murder, assault and illegal firearm possession, arrests were made across the board with provinces like the Western Cape and Eastern
Cape seeing notable activity.
Police successes in this month
- A major drug bust in Cape Town on 11 June uncovered 15 bricks of cocaine valued at R18 million, as well as a deadly weapons cache including an AK47, Uzzi submachine gun, five 9mm pistols, and a variety of ammunition. The bust followed an intelligence-driven raid by members of the Anti-Gang Unit, Crime Intelligence and Organised Crime Detectives.
- In Mpumalanga, a high-speed chase near Tonga led to the seizure of dagga worth millions of rand.
- In Limpopo, police arrested a wanted suspect linked to a brutal murder and recovered three unlicensed firearms.
- In the Eastern Cape, a dramatic multi-day operation in Port Saint led to the seizure of 10 AK47s, 19 magazines and a haul of military grade gear.
Protecting the vulnerable and cracking down on exploitation
The crackdown was not limited to weapons and drugs. Police also made key arrests in cases involving human trafficking, child pornography and sexual offences. Four people were arrested for human trafficking in the past week and in Bloubergstrand, Western Cape, two parents were taken into custody for allegedly producing child pornography and committing related offences. At OR Tambo International Airport, police nabbed three foreign nationals involved in drug trafficking, further evidence that Operation Shanela extends from the streets to border control points. Efforts to curb road-related crime saw the arrest of 850 drunk drivers, with KwaZulu-Natal again topping the list. In a further blow to criminal infrastructure, 77 stolen or hijacked vehicles were recovered.
A unified National Force
Spearheaded by provincial police commissioners, the Shanela operations are coordinated and intelligence led, targeting both high-profile suspects and everyday criminal activity. The success of the initiative has been rooted in a combination of community policing, tactical response units and inter-agency cooperation. Operation Shanela has become a symbol of visible policing at its most determined, said
Mukhathi. “The people of South Africa must know we are coming for those who continue to
terrorise our communities.”
Crimes does not pay
As the SAPS intensifies its campaign, Operation Shanela appears to be shifting the tide in South Africa’s long battle against violent and organized crime. With thousands of criminals off the streets and weapons removed from circulation, the operation has reaffirmed one message: The law is catching up!