On Saturday, 19 October 2024, Operation Shanela was unleashed in the Olievenhoutbosch and Wierdabrug policing areas under the command of the District Commissioner of Tshwane, Major-General Samuel Thine. The operation resulted in the arrest of 437 suspects for various offenses.
This highly successful operation, carried out in collaboration with multiple law enforcement agencies and community organizations, highlights our commitment to addressing criminal activities and ensuring public safety, with the continuous tracing of wanted suspects, visible patrols and conducting compliance inspections at liquor establishments.
During the first phase, Tshwane Detectives arrested 247 suspects for serious offenses, including 73 for gender-based violence, three for murder, 29 for assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, five for armed robbery, and two for rape.
Additionally, 146 undocumented immigrants were detained pending legal proceedings, with one individual arrested for harbouring illegal immigrants. If found to be in contravention of immigration laws, the undocumented individuals will face deportation.
As part of the operation, 780 individuals were inspected, 424 vehicles were checked, and 4 vehicles were tested to verify if they had been stolen, which led to the arrest of 18 persons being arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol. A total of 28 targeted premises were searched.
Twenty-five liquor premises were inspected, with 10 being closed and 975,280 ml of illicit liquor confiscated for non-compliance with the Liquor Act. The seized liquor will be disposed of following the completion of legal proceedings. Six second-hand goods dealers were also inspected and fined for discrepancies under the Second-Hand Goods Act, and two lawnmowers were confiscated during the inspections.
Regarding traffic enforcement, six fines totalling R4,750 were issued.
Major-General Thine expresses his gratitude to all those involved in the operation for their hard work.