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Shanela II Safer Festive Season Operations in Limpopo

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The New Year has begun with decisive and uncompromising action against crime in Limpopo, as police arrested 843 suspects for various serious and priority offences during the ongoing joint, multi-disciplinary Operation Shanela, conducted from Monday, 29 December 2025 to Sunday, 04 January 2026.

The intensified operations, aimed at clamping down on violent crime and removing illegal firearms from communities, resulted in the recovery of three (3) unlicensed firearms and 132 rounds of ammunition. A total of 185 undocumented foreign nationals were also apprehended for contraventions of immigration laws.

Offences detected during the operation include murder, attempted murder, rape, assault, robbery, burglary, drug-related crimes, possession of dangerous weapons, illegal dealing in liquor, and possession of illicit cigarettes.

Operation Shanela was executed through co-ordinated deployments involving various SAPS units, supported by the stakeholders including South African National Defence Force (SANDF), Traffic Police, Department of Home Affairs, Department of Minerals and Energy, Department of Small Business Development, Correctional Services, Community Policing Forums (CPF), and Youth Desk structures.

High-impact policing actions included high-visibility patrols, roadblocks, vehicle checkpoints, stop-and-search operations, tracing of wanted suspects, farm visits, inspections of licensed liquor premises, and compliance inspections at informal businesses, including spaza shops.

Arrests recorded include:
▶️ 185 undocumented foreign nationals
▶️ 06 for murder
▶️ 05 for attempted murder
▶️ 18 for rape
▶️ 01 for attempted rape
▶️ 05 for house robbery
▶️ 01 for robbery with aggravating circumstances
▶️ 04 for business robbery
▶️ 86 for assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH)
▶️ 46 for assault common
▶️ 07 for residential burglary
▶️ 06 for business burglary
▶️ 27 for malicious damage to property
▶️ 03 for illegal possession of firearms
▶️ 02 for possession of dangerous weapons
▶️ 04 for dealing in drugs
▶️ 32 for possession of drugs
▶️ 52 for illegal dealing in liquor
▶️ 69 for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
▶️ 01 for possession of illegal cigarettes
▶️ 01 for possession of precious metals
▶️ 264 for other crimes

Items recovered include:
▶️ 287.371 litres of alcoholic beverages
▶️ 03 handguns
▶️ 132 rounds of ammunition
▶️ 04 dangerous weapons
▶️ 0.403 kg of dagga
▶️ 2.525 grams of cocaine
▶️ 0.04 grams of crystal meth
▶️ 1.6 grams of nyaope
▶️ 01 motor vehicle

Most of the arrested suspects have already appeared, or are expected to appear, before their respective local Magistrates’ Courts.

The Acting Provincial Commissioner of Limpopo, Major General Jan Scheepers, commended members and operational partners for their continued commitment.

“We are starting the year with firm action against criminality. These operations will continue beyond the festive season as we intensify efforts to protect communities and maintain stability across the province,” said Major General Scheepers.

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