Operation Shanela’s first year reaping rewards as SAPS crunches numbers

JOHANNESBURG – The South African Police Services’ (SAPS) Operation Shanela has seen more than 600,000 suspects netted in its first year.

This week marks exactly one year since the initiative, which is aimed at clamping down on crime in high-density areas around the country, was launched.

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- Over 500,000 suspects arrested since Operation Shanela's inception

Police top brass provided an update on Monday morning on their achievements since then.

Head for National Operations Coordination Mashadi Selepe said more than 71,000 operations had taken place under the Operation Shanela banner so far.

“Just to give you a few breakdowns of those: we've had arrests under your contravention of firearms - which is 3,418. We’ve also had arrests under dealing in liquor - a total of 19,192. And we’ve also had possession of counterfeit goods - we’ve had a total of 5,041 of those arrests, just to mention those.”

Selepe said there had also been thousands of arrests for driving under the influence, theft out of a motor vehicle, human trafficking, and other crimes.