Week-long operation yields 342 arrests in Northern Cape

THE NORTHERN Cape police arrested 342 suspects for various crimes, including murder, rape and assault, during a week-long operation aimed at addressing gender-based violence and femicide.

Operation Shanela 2, which took place from November 24 to 30, involved high-density operations led by senior managers at provincial and district levels, in collaboration with relevant stakeholders. Actions included stop-and-search operations, vehicle checkpoints, roadblocks and high-visibility patrols.

“Road safety is one of the critical focus areas during the execution of Safer Festive Season operations to ensure the safety of all motorists, passengers and pedestrians,” the police added.

A total of 9,450 individuals and 4,862 vehicles were stopped and searched, as well as numerous premises. Compliance inspections were conducted at second-hand dealers, liquor outlets, formal and informal businesses, farms and scrapyards, leading to the closure of 16 unlicensed liquor premises for non-compliance violations.

Measures were also intensified at shopping centres and malls to address the increase in retail activity during the discount shopping period, to clamp down on ATM-related crimes, shoplifting, theft and robberies.

The 342 suspects were arrested for various crimes, including drug-related offences, burglary, murder, rape, attempted murder and assault GBH. Detectives also conducted more than 200 tracing operations to track down and apprehend offenders who had been evading the law for an array of offences.

During the operation, police confiscated a substantial amount of alcohol, drugs and dangerous weapons, as well as illicit tobacco products.

The operation formed part of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children, which commenced on November 25. The provincial launch was led by the Office of the Northern Cape Premier and was attended by the Northern Cape provincial commissioner, Lieutenant-General Koliwa Otola, in the John Taolo Gaetsewe District.

The Northern Cape SAPS said it will continue to conduct intensified operations to restore stability and combat crime in identified hot-spot areas, in collaboration with stakeholders and the community.