POTCHEFSTROOM – The weekly Joint Law Enforcement operations conducted under Operation Shanela II, have resulted in the arrest of suspects and the seizure of a variety of illegal contrabands, including three illegal firearms, 411 rounds of ammunition, a variety of drugs, liquor, and dangerous weapons. In the period between Monday, 01 and Sunday, 07 September 2025, a total of 1 132 suspects were arrested for a variety of crimes.
555 out of the 1 132 arrested suspects were circulated wanted suspects, after they were positively linked to the committed crimes through forensic DNA leads. The suspects include 17 for murder, nine for robberies, 14 for attempted murders, 10 for rape, nine for burglaries, 202 for assaults, seven for illegal dealing in drugs, 132 for possession of drugs, 32 for selling of liquor without licences, 40 for driving under the influence of liquor, 14 for malicious damage to property and six for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.
During these operations, 56 illegal migrants were apprehended for contravention of section 49 of the Immigration Act, 2002 and are currently being processed through the courts before being deported by the Department of Home Affairs back to their countries.
Alert police officers in Ventersdorp on Wednesday, 03 September 2025, noticed a truck, parked next to the N14 Road, between Coligney and Ventersdorp during the early hours of the morning. Upon further investigation, they discovered copper cable in the back of the truck of which the occupants could not give account for.
Dzikamai Christoffer Sangodimambo (29) and Lovemore Mushayavanhuti (44) were immediately arrested and appeared in the Ventersdorp Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, 04 September 2025 for possession of suspected stolen property. The duo were remanded in custody until their next court appearance on Thursday, 11 September 2025.
The total value of the copper cables is estimated at R 316 755.00 and it was determined that the cables were stolen from Transnet in the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District. More cases will be added as investigation continues.
The Acting Provincial Commissioner, Major General Patrick Asaneng said: “Theft of non-ferrous metals especially copper and aluminum, including incidents of tampering with or damage to critical infrastructure, pose a serious threat to the economic security and development of the country and hopefully, the arrest of the suspects by the police in Ventersdorp will lead to the identification and arrest of the real mastermind of what is obviously a lucrative transnational organized crime.”
The public is advised to report crime at their nearest police stations or anonymously through the South African Police Service (SAPS) Crime Stop number 08600 10111 or the MySAPS mobile application. Extortion-related incidents can be reported on the Extortion hotline on 080 091 1011.
Kindly find attached photos of Ventersdorp copper cable, truck and Shanela operation in Ngaka Modiri Molema District.
