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Nelspruit, 25 October 2026 – The South African Police Service (SAPS) in Mpumalanga has reported significant successes following the latest Safer Festive Season Operation Shanela II, conducted between 22 and 25 October.
The high-density crime prevention operation resulted in the arrest of 1 319 suspects for various offences and the recovery of 23 firearms across the province.
The integrated, multidisciplinary operation involved high-visibility patrols, roadblocks, vehicle checkpoints (VCPs), stop-and-search operations, suspect tracing, premises inspections, and compliance checks aimed at tackling crime and enhancing community safety.
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Police arrest 1 319 suspects across multiple crime categories
Among the 1 319 arrests made during the operation were suspects charged with:
- Illegal possession of firearms: 17
- Illegal possession of ammunition: 14
- Possession of suspected drugs: 69
- Drug dealing: 7
- Possession of gold-bearing material: 23
- Rape: 20
- Murder: 9
- Attempted murder: 6
- Carjacking: 4
- Aggravated robbery: 15
- Business robbery: 11
- House robbery: 5
- Assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH): 186
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs: 68
- Illegal mining-related offences: 11
- Undocumented persons: 94
Detectives also arrested 30 wanted suspects during tracing operations. Additional arrests were made for offences including burglary, malicious damage to property, vehicle theft, illegal liquor trading, possession of illicit cigarettes, counterfeit goods, and other criminal activities.
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23 firearms and large quantities of drugs seized
Police recovered 23 firearms, comprising:
- 8 rifles
- 13 handguns
- 2 shotguns
In addition, officers seized 137 rounds of ammunition.
Drug seizures during the operation included:
- 2 131,34kg of dagga
- 80,5g of suspected crystal methamphetamine (Tik)
- 146,41g of suspected nyaope/whoonga
- 27 suspected Mandrax tablets
Police arrest 1 319 suspects, to appear in court soon
The arrested suspects are expected to appear in various magistrates’ courts across Mpumalanga,
Police arrest 1 319 suspects: SAPS commends law enforcement partners and communities
Mpumalanga Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Apaphia Modise, praised SAPS members and all participating stakeholders for their dedication and commitment to fighting crime.
The Commissioner also encouraged communities to continue supporting law enforcement by reporting criminal activity and sharing information about wanted suspects. Members of the public can contact their nearest police station, call the Crime Stop hotline on 08600 10111, or use the official SAPS WhatsApp reporting platform.
“The results of these operations demonstrate the importance of sustained, intelligence-driven and high-density operations. Our members will continue to hunt for wanted suspects, unlicensed and illegal firearms, drugs, and deal decisively with illicit mining and other criminal activities that threaten the safety and security of communities,” said Lieutenant General Modise.
What is Operation Shanela II
Operation Shanela II is the South African Police Service’s (SAPS) ongoing, intelligence-driven, high-density crime-combating operation.
It is an integrated and multidisciplinary operation that brings together SAPS units, other law enforcement agencies, and stakeholders to reduce serious and violent crime across all provinces, including Mpumalanga.
The operation focuses on:
- High-visibility policing: roadblocks, vehicle check points (VCPs), stop-and-searches, and foot and vehicle patrols;
- Tracing wanted suspects and enforcing warrants;
- Recovery of illegal firearms, ammunition, drugs, and stolen property;
- Combating priority crimes including murder, rape, robbery, carjacking, assault, illegal mining, drug dealing, and possession of gold-bearing material; and
- Compliance operations: liquor, second-hand goods, firearms, and immigration law enforcement
Under the Safer Festive Season campaign, operations are intensified over weekends to disrupt criminal activities and keep communities safe.
