More Than 15,000 Suspects Arrested Through Operation Shanela

Police have arrested more than 15,000 suspects this week during Operation Shanela nationally . Crime fighting operations led by the Provincial Commissioner of each province include roadblocks, high visibility patrols, stop and searches as well as tracing of wanted suspects.

Lieutenant Colonel Vincent Mukhathi says police will continue with their operations to ensure that South Africans are safe during festive season.

157 suspects were arrested for murder, majority of these suspects were arrested in Eastern Cape 37, followed by Gauteng 28, and Western Cape 27. 289 suspects were arrested for rape, again KwaZulu-Natal arrested majority of these suspects with 155 arrests, 2 249 suspects were arrested for assault GBH during this period, 1 688 illegal foreign nationals were also arrested during this period," says Mukhathi.