Police in the North West have arrested 994 suspects during the weekly Joint Law Enforcement high density Operation Shanela II, conducted between Monday, 10 November and Sunday, 16 November 2025, across all five districts.
The arrests build a strong foundation for the Safer Festive Season Operations, aimed at addressing the heightened risk of criminality associated with increased movement of people and elevated social activity during the holiday period.
According to the police, out of the 994 arrested suspects, 366 were arrested by the detectives after being traced from circulated wanted suspects' lists. The operation also led to the arrest of 15 undocumented foreign nationals.
The operations also addressed identified crime generators through compliance inspections to enforce the provisions of the Liquor and Second-Hand Goods Acts.
The multi-disciplinary teams conducted compliance inspections targeting identified crime generators, including liquor outlets and second-hand goods dealers. A total of 151 licensed liquor outlets were inspected, resulting in 56 arrests for illegal liquor trading, while large quantities of liquor were confiscated.
“Moreover, the operations led to the confiscation of a variety of drugs, firearms, ammunition, vehicles, precious metals and tobacco products,” the police said in a statement.
In Dr Kenneth Kaunda District, the Provincial Anti-Gang Unit, Provincial Proactive Drug Operations, Ventersdorp Crime Prevention and Community Police Forum (CPF) members executed search and seizure warrants at Boikhutsong and Goedgevonden villages, and Tshing location, Ventersdorp on Friday, 14 November 2025.
Silengene Tokwana (35) and Molefi Elliot Sakhachane (35) were arrested for dealing in drugs and possession of suspected illegal substances. Police seized dagga and crystal meth with estimated street value of R32 000.
The pair appeared in the Ventersdorp Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 17 November 2025, and were remanded in custody until 20 and 24 November2025, respectively.
“A multidisciplinary Inter-Provincial roadblock was conducted on Friday, 14 November 2025, on the N12 road between Potchefstroom and Fochville culminated in the arrest of five individuals for contravening Section 49 (1)(a) of the Immigration Act, 2002. (Act No. 13 of 2002).
In a separate operation, a multidisciplinary Inter-Provincial roadblock was conducted on the N12 between Potchefstroom and Fochville on Friday, 14 November 2005, resulted in the arrest of five suspects for contravening immigration laws.
Two others were arrested for drug-related offences after police confiscated about 8kg of dagga. Nine traffic fines were also issued to motorists.
In Bojanala Sub-District 2, Rustenburg police responded on Saturday, 15 November, to a local hospital, where a man was found with multiple stab wounds on his upper body.
"Initial investigations indicated that the deceased, Dumile Patrick Mthunzana (45) was fatally stabbed during an argument. The police tracked down and arrested the suspect shortly after the incident.
"Phathilizwe Malongwane (46) appeared before the Rustenburg Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, 18 November 2025, on a charge of murder. Malongwane was remanded in custody until his next court appearance on Thursday, 27 November 2025," the SAPS said.
The Acting Provincial Commissioner of the North West, Major General (Dr) Ryno Naidoo commended all law-enforcement agencies for working together in enhancing safety and security across the province. – SAnews.gov.za
