The South African Police Service (SAPS) has arrested 16 684 suspects for various offences as part of ongoing efforts to combat and prevent crime through the nationwide Operation Shanela.
The operation, said the police in a statement, resulted in the arrest of 1 869 undocumented immigrants between 20 and 26 July 2026.
In addition, detectives arrested 2 547 wanted individuals linked to violent offences, including murder, attempted murder, rape, carjacking, illegal possession of firearms, and house and business robberies.
“This week, amongst those arrested is a popular traditional healer from KwaMashu for allegedly orchestrating the murders of African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) member Thamsanqa Kingdom Gcabashe and eThekwini Metro Police officials Lindokuhle Madonsela and Ndumiso Thusi,” police said.
On 25 July 2026, SAPS also arrested a 37-year-old alleged mastermind behind the murder of DA candidate councillor Sinovuyo Dyokwe. The arrest followed a joint, intelligence-driven operation involving Western Cape Serious Violent Crime Investigation (SVCI) detectives and the Special Task Force (STF) in Parklands.
“Operation Shanela continues to send a strong message that crime and lawlessness will not be tolerated in South Africa, whether committed by locals or foreign nationals,” police said.
The multidisciplinary operations resulted in significant arrests across several crime categories:
- 114 suspects were arrested for attempted murder, with Gauteng recording the highest number of arrests at 26, followed by the Eastern Cape with 24.
- 152 suspects were arrested for rape.
- 101 suspects were arrested for illegal possession of firearms. The Western Cape recorded the highest number of arrests at 38, followed by Gauteng with 20.
- 660 suspects were arrested for the illegal dealing in liquor.
- 230 suspects were arrested for dealing in drugs.
- 2 530 suspects were arrested for possession of drugs, with the Western Cape recording the highest number of arrests at 1 314.
- 1 383 suspects were arrested for assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm (GBH).
- 715 suspects were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Confiscations and recoveries
The operations also resulted in the following confiscations and recoveries across the provinces:
- 128 unlicensed firearms, including handguns, shotguns and rifles;
- 2 296 rounds of ammunition;
- Contraband goods worth more than R46 million;
- Various types of drugs; and
- 55 hijacked and stolen vehicles.
Provincial takedowns
Free State: On 25 July 2026, members of the Bloemfontein Flying Squad intercepted a white Volvo Stralis 430 truck on the N1 near Glen, which was suspected of transporting stolen copper cable.
Centlec technicians confirmed that some of the seized cables belonged to the company, while Telkom and Eskom later identified additional cables worth more than R300 000.
A 43-year-old driver was arrested and charged under the Criminal Matters Amendment Act for tampering with essential infrastructure and possession of stolen property. He is expected to appear in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court.
Western Cape: On 19 July 2026, Crime Intelligence members arrested a 29-year-old suspect at an apartment in Richwood, Bothasig, which was allegedly being used as a gang storage facility.
Police seized seven pistols, 17 magazines, 1 030 rounds of ammunition and assorted drugs valued at R10 million.
Gauteng: On 23 July 2026, the Ekurhuleni Task Team arrested a 40-year-old suspect in Ebony Park. Police recovered nine unlicensed firearms, including five AK-47 rifles, rounds of ammunition and four stolen vehicles - a Mercedes-Benz, a BMW and two Volkswagen Polos.
In Eldorado Park on 22 July 2026, a 45-year-old suspect was arrested with two 9mm pistols, a shotgun, magazines and 37 rounds of ammunition. The suspect is allegedly linked to multiple business robberies, and the firearms were sent for ballistic examination.
Between 20 and 23 July 2026, the Gauteng Provincial Counterfeit Unit seized more than 572 000 counterfeit and illicit items worth over R27.5 million across Sedibeng, the West Rand, Tshwane and Johannesburg.
Major seizures included 41 120 counterfeit Rizla dispensers, 522 000 Trust condom packets and 4 200 Darling hair pieces.
Mpumalanga: On 21 July 2026, members of the Ermelo K9 Unit arrested two suspects, aged 42 and 47, on the N4 near Middelburg for allegedly possessing 204 kg of dagga valued at R1.2 million.
A bakkie allegedly used to transport the drugs was also confiscated. The suspects appeared in the Middelburg Magistrate’s Court on 22 July 2026.
North West: Police in Brits arrested a 26-year-old man in Oukasie following a shootout on 22 July 2026.
The suspect allegedly robbed his 68-year-old grandfather of a licensed firearm and fired shots at him. He later allegedly opened fire on police during a pursuit, wounding an officer and a bystander before being apprehended.
The stolen firearm and ammunition were recovered.
Limpopo: On 21 July 2026, the Provincial Commercial Crimes Unit arrested a 26-year-old female cashier, Sune Grobbelaar, in Mokopane in connection with alleged fraud involving R500 000 at a milling company.
Investigations allegedly revealed duplicate receipts and missing stock, which were identified through CCTV footage and audits.
Grobbelaar appeared in the Mokopane Magistrate’s Court on the same day and was remanded in custody. The case was postponed to 27 July 2026 for further investigation and a bail application.
Northern Cape: On 22 July 2026, SAPS members and Provincial Traffic officials seized 379.3 kg of dagga valued at R7.5 million. The drugs were allegedly concealed in mobile toilets on a truck at the N1 Weigh Bridge in Colesberg.
A 37-year-old foreign national was arrested and charged with dealing in dagga. The truck and trailer were also confiscated.
KwaZulu-Natal: Acting on a tip-off, members of the eThekwini District Tracing Unit arrested a 71-year-old suspect during an operation in Cato Manor.
The suspect allegedly modified replica firearms and manufactured homemade guns, which he allegedly sold, along with ammunition, to foreign nationals.
He was charged with possession of unlicensed firearms.
Eastern Cape: A multidisciplinary operation involving members of the Mount Ruth Rapid Rail Unit, Transnet and Ndevana SAPS led to the arrest of two suspects and the recovery of suspected stolen Transnet infrastructure valued at R10 million outside Qonce.
The team seized 49 rolls of overhead track equipment, 18 railway rails weighing approximately 40kg each, four transformer batteries and one bag containing damaged copper. - SAnews.gov.za
