Police arrest 236 suspects in Northern Cape crackdown on contact crimes
With boots on the ground, the SAPS has intensified its fight against crime across the Northern Cape.
Image: Supplied / SAPS
A MASSIVE week-long police crackdown across the Northern Cape has seen 236 suspects arrested and scores of illegal items seized as Operation Shanela 2 continues to gain momentum in the fight against serious crime.
SAPS spokesperson Sergeant Timothy Sam said the province-wide blitz, which ran from June 30 to July 6, was spearheaded by the province’s five district commissioners and senior SAPS officers, targeting murder, gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF), drug trafficking, illegal firearms, and other contact and high-priority crimes.
High-impact operations included roadblocks, vehicle checkpoints, stop-and-searches, compliance inspections, and the tracking of wanted suspects. Over 2,700 vehicles and nearly 6,000 people were stopped and searched during the week, while police maintained a strong visible presence in crime hot spots.
The crackdown led to arrests for a wide range of offences including murder, attempted murder, rape, assault, burglary, robbery, possession of unlicensed firearms, dealing in drugs, illegal liquor sales, damage to property, and contraventions of immigration laws.
Among the notable busts, officers in Postmasburg arrested two suspects caught with suspected stolen copper cables worth an estimated R170,000, while a 37-year-old man was arrested in Lerato Park, Kimberley, after police seized over 13 kilograms of dagga worth nearly R100,000.
Police also raided liquor outlets, seizing large quantities of alcohol, and confiscated dangerous weapons, illegal firearms, narcotics, and cash believed to be linked to criminal activity.
Parallel to the enforcement efforts, SAPS members, community policing forums, and various government departments rolled out public awareness campaigns aimed at educating communities and strengthening local partnerships in the fight against crime.
The provincial police commissioner, Lieutenant-General Koliswa Otola, praised the dedication of SAPS members, partner law enforcement agencies, and community structures, saying the operation demonstrated a united front in restoring safety and dignity to residents.
She urged residents to remain alert and report any suspicious activity by calling 08600 10111 or using the MySAPS app.