With the festive season approaching, the South African Police Service (SAPS) has launched its National Safer Festive Season campaign alongside the ongoing Operation Shanela to intensify crime-fighting efforts and strengthen police visibility.
The Safer Festive Season campaign was launched in Mpumalanga on Monday.
In the past week alone, Operation Shanela resulted in the arrest of 16 380 suspects for various offences. They included 2 165 wanted suspects linked to violent crimes who were traced and apprehended across several provinces.
As part of efforts to combat gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF), in line with the Presidential Four-Point Plan, 169 suspects were arrested for rape, 155 for murder and 140 for attempted murder.
Police also recovered and removed 164 illegal firearms from circulation, while a further 17 277 rounds of ammunition and 760 dangerous weapons were confiscated during the reporting period.
Intelligence-driven operations targeting drug manufacturing and distribution have also been intensified.
“Law enforcement agencies continue to intensify intelligence-driven operations aimed at dismantling organised criminal networks and disrupting the manufacture and distribution of illicit drugs across the country.
“During the reporting period, 3 373 suspects were arrested for possession of drugs, while a further 275 were arrested for dealing in drugs,” police said in a statement.
On 6 October 2026, police dealt a significant blow to drug manufacturing operations when they discovered a multi-million-rand mandrax laboratory in Hartbeespoort, North West.
A 39-year-old Zimbabwean national and three women were arrested.
Two days later, on 8 October 2026, law enforcement agencies uncovered another multi-million-rand drug laboratory on a farm in Krugersdorp, Gauteng.
Five South African nationals were arrested, and mandrax and ecstasy tablets were seized.
“In a separate intelligence-driven operation in Hout Bay, Western Cape, three suspects were arrested after police discovered 172 000 mandrax tablets, valued at approximately R10 million, concealed in a false compartment of a vehicle,” police said.
Meanwhile, SAPS, working closely with the Department of Home Affairs, arrested 1 647 undocumented foreign nationals.
A further 30 people were arrested in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng for offences including public violence, unlawful gatherings, obstruction and resisting arrest.
“Police will maintain heightened visibility in identified hotspot areas to prevent crime, enforce the law and maintain public order.
“These arrests and recoveries demonstrate SAPS's continued commitment to disrupting criminal networks, tracing wanted suspects and removing illegal firearms and drugs from circulation through intelligence-led policing and coordinated law enforcement operations nationwide,” police said.
Other arrests included:
- Assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH) – 1 700;
- Common assault – 998;
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs – 661;
- Illegal dealing in liquor – 612;
- Possession of a dangerous weapon – 517;
- Malicious damage to property – 364;
- Contravention of the Firearms Control Act – 100;
- Illegal possession of firearms – 88;
- Illicit mining – 47;
- Possession of illegal cigarettes – 41; and
- Human trafficking – 14.
Key confiscations and recoveries included:
- 18 807 litres of liquor confiscated;
- 48 hijacked or stolen vehicles recovered; and
- Various types of drugs confiscated.
– SAnews.gov.za
