The South African Police Service’s (SAPS) nationwide Safer Festive Season operations, alongside Operation Shanela II, continue to gain momentum with some 24 910 suspects arrested during the past 14 days.
Among those arrested are 2 680 wanted suspects who were traced and arrested in different parts of the country for various serious and violent crimes.
“Parallel to these operations, SAPS maintained heightened police visibility at voting stations across the country.
“In one incident, police in Limpopo arrested two women in Khomisani and Mankweng for allegedly photographing their marked ballot papers, a contravention of the Electoral Act,” police said in a statement.
In another incident, police in KwaZulu-Natal opened a case of burglary for investigation after voting materials belonging to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) were reportedly stolen from a voting station in Hillcrest.
The operational highlights per province are as follows:
- National: The Political Killings Task Team (PKTT)-led investigation into the murder of former Knysna Executive Mayor, Aubrey Tsengwa, has led to the arrest of a 44-year-old hitman. The investigation led the team to Peddie in the Eastern Cape, where a takedown operation was conducted on Friday (6 November), resulting in the arrest of the suspect.
- Eastern Cape: A man was arrested for the unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition following a domestic violence complaint at Ndingishe Administrative Area. Police responded to a domestic violence complaint involving a husband and wife. During the intervention, the woman informed police that she had obtained a protection order against her husband and that he was in possession of a firearm.
- Free State: The Mangaung Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit secured a life imprisonment sentence for a man convicted of raping a 26-year-old man with an intellectual disability. He was found guilty of kidnapping and raping the victim. Still in the Free State, police intercepted a truck transporting drugs and dagga with an estimated street value of R1.5 million.
- Gauteng: Members of the Gauteng Highway patrol acted on intelligence-driven information obtained from the Vaalrand DPCI regarding a vehicle suspected of transporting drugs to Benoni. Police arrested two suspects, a Nigerian national and a Pakistani national, and seized a large quantity of suspected drugs.
- KwaZulu-Natal: Police have opened a case of burglary for investigation after voting materials belonging to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) were reportedly stolen from a voting station in Hillcrest between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.
- Limpopo: The Polokwane High Court sentenced Gareth Alexander Potgieter and Wynand Carel Steyn to life imprisonment each for the murder of 43-year-old Hendrik Stephanus Venter in the Waterberg District.
- Mpumalanga: Four suspects have been arrested following an alleged mob justice incident that claimed the lives of two males and left two other persons injured in Kwazakhele.
- Northern Cape: The Upington High Court has sentenced a 30-year-old man to three life term sentences for murder and rape. The accused was found guilty of raping and murdering a 23-year-old woman in 2025 in Keimoes.
- North West: The investigation into the violent farm robbery and attempted murder in Syferfontein, Ventersdorp, has resulted in the arrest of three additional suspects, bringing the total to five suspects. The latest arrests were affected on 01 November 2026 following intensive investigative and operational efforts. During the operation, police seized four firearms, of which two are linked to the Ventersdorp incident as well as clothing items and jewellery.
- Western Cape: Members of K9 Cape Town were patrolling when they acted on information which resulted in the arrest of a 40-year-old suspect and the seizure of approximately 5000 mandrax tablets in Bellville.
“These achievements demonstrate the SAPS’ continued commitment to disrupting criminal networks, apprehending wanted suspects and ensuring the safety and security of communities across the country,” the police said. – SAnews.gov.za
