NORTHERN CAPE – Police arrested 247 suspects across the Northern Cape between Monday, 15 June 2026 and Sunday, 21 June.

This successful arrest tally follows operations during Operation Shanela 2 conducted by the South African Police Service (SAPS) in collaboration with Justice, Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) Cluster stakeholders.

Multi-disciplinary teams comprising SAPS members from various components and units, together with officials from the departments of Home Affairs, Health, Transport, Social Development, Employment and Labour, Mineral Resources and Energy, and Justice and Constitutional Development, as well as the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and other government agencies, conducted operations across all five districts.

Suspects were charged with offences including dealing in and possession of drugs, illegal dealing in liquor, murder, attempted murder, business robbery, assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, common assault, business burglary, and theft from motor vehicles. Law enforcement officers confiscated alcohol, cash, copper, cellphones, dangerous weapons, and drugs during the operations.

The operations included searches of persons, premises, and vehicles, high-visibility patrols, vehicle checkpoints, roadblocks, and the closure of unlicensed liquor outlets. Compliance inspections were carried out at second-hand goods dealers, licensed liquor premises, and scrapyards. Teams also visited farms, mines, and formal and informal business premises.

Detectives conducted tracing operations, resulting in the arrest of several wanted suspects.

The Provincial Commissioner of the Northern Cape, Lieutenant General Koliswa Otola, monitored operations on the ground. She expressed appreciation to members and stakeholders involved and reaffirmed the commitment of SAPS to ensuring the safety and security of citizens.

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