Northern Cape police intensify crime crackdown under Operation Shanela II
Northern Cape police intensified crime fighting under Operation Shanela II, arresting 226 suspects, closing illegal liquor outlets, seizing drugs and weapons, and boosting visibility through roadblocks, patrols, and school safety visits provincewide during the festive period.
Image: SAPS
Northern Cape police have stepped up efforts to assert the authority of the state in the fight against crime, following a weeklong intelligence-driven operation that delivered hundreds of arrests, widespread vehicle checks, and the closure of illegal liquor outlets across the province.
Operation Shanela II was rolled out across all five districts from Monday, 12 January, to Sunday, 18 January 2026, combining self-initiated policing actions, multidisciplinary high-density operations, blue-light patrols, and the tracing of wanted suspects.
During the weekly disruptive actions, police stopped 3,747 vehicles and searched 6,867 people at roadblocks and vehicle check points set up throughout the province. These interventions, supported by information received from community members and external law enforcement partners, resulted in the arrest of 226 suspects for a range of criminal offences.
SAPS search a house during Operation Shanela
Image: SAPS
Detectives also made headway in tracing and arresting perpetrators who had previously evaded capture, further strengthening the impact of the operation.
Police confiscated a variety of illegal and dangerous items, including weapons, dagga, crystal meth, mandrax tablets, alcohol, and cash suspected to be the proceeds of crime. Compliance inspections were carried out on farms, mines, and formal and informal businesses, as well as second hand goods dealers, leading to the closure of 20 unlicensed liquor outlets.
Beyond crime fighting, police leadership and government officials were visible during the reopening of schools on Wednesday, 14 January 2026. The Northern Cape Provincial Government, Department of Transport, Safety and Liaison, SAPS provincial management, district commissioners, and station commanders visited schools alongside Department of Basic Education officials to encourage learners, share safety tips, and assess readiness for the 2026 academic year.
Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Koliswa Otola praised the role of communities in the success of the operation, commending residents for sharing intelligence that led to significant arrests. She also thanked multi disciplinary stakeholders for their continued cooperation in ensuring the safety of Northern Cape residents and visitors during and beyond the festive season.
Police have reiterated that operations such as Shanela II will continue as part of a sustained strategy to disrupt criminal activity and reinforce law and order across the province.