South African police arrested over 16,000 people in just one week

The South African Police Service (SAPS) made over 16,000 arrests nationwide between 29 December 2025 and 4 January 2026 during Operation Shanela II.

Operation Shanela II is an effort by SAPS to reduce crime during the festive season, with a focus on attempted murder, assault, and robbery.

Authorities say that offences directly linked to alcohol were also a focal point, with 939 suspects arrested for illegally dealing in liquor and 1,816 suspects apprehended for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

The clampdown also saw the removal of 30,043 litres of alcohol from circulation, with 12,343 litres confiscated in the Eastern Cape alone.

In addition to liquor- and drunk-driving-related arrests, 997 suspects were arrested for violating the Immigration Act, 181 for rape, 185 for drug dealing, and 87 for aggravated robbery.

Another 1,888 were arrested for crimes ranging from robbery and hijacking to sexual offences and firearm violations.

According to a statement from the SAPS, during the nationwide sweep, 113 firearms, including handguns, rifles, homemade weapons, and shotguns, were recovered, as well as 1,278 rounds of ammunition.

There were also 325 explosives confiscated and 32 hijacked and stolen vehicles recovered during the week.

SAPS added that 81 suspects were arrested for possession of illegal firearms, 50 for possession of explosives, and 396 for possession of dangerous weapons.

Provincial highlights

In the Western Cape, the Anti-Gang Unit arrested three suspects in Athlone and Mitchells Plain who face charges of murder, attempted murder, and illegal firearm possession. The arrests are linked to shootings in 2017 and 2025.

Police also managed to arrest a man suspected of killing an off-duty police officer, Sergeant Siyabonga Magadla, on 27 December 2025 in the Eastern Cape. The man was arrested the next day.

On 30 December, police from Gauteng and Limpopo arrested a suspect linked to the Atteridgeville mass shooting that left 12 dead and 13 wounded.

Gauteng authorities also managed to rescue a kidnapped victim and arrested two suspects in Bekkersdal.

In KwaZulu-Natal, a suspect wanted for a cash-in-transit heist opened fire on police and was fatally shot on 31 December 2025. That same day, a 34-year-old suspect was arrested for a 2019 Mariannhill murder after absconding on bail.

Police also arrested a suspect in Chatsworth for the possession of 21 shotgun rounds and a homemade firearm.

Acting on intelligence, police in Mpumalanga intercepted a suspect linked to a firearm-pointing case.

A silver revolver with a filed-off serial number and live rounds was found in his vehicle. A search at his residence uncovered multiple bank cards, ammunition of different calibres, including AK-47 and R5 rounds, and magazines.

On 1 January, the Free State SAPS arrested a 55-year-old suspect in Welkom linked to a series of rapes after community members chased him and handed him over to the police.

Investigations revealed he posed as a “prophet”, luring victims into graveyard rituals before raping and robbing them, according to SAPS.