Gauteng police arrested more than 1,000 suspects and recovered 21 unlicensed firearms, including automatic rifles, during a weekend-long crime crackdown under Operation Shanela.
Of those arrested, nearly 800 were traced and apprehended by detectives targeting wanted suspects. Around 80 individuals were caught driving under the influence of alcohol, while several others were taken into custody for various other offences.
Police also conducted raids on illegal liquor outlets as part of broader efforts to combat crime and restore order in communities across the province.
“In an effort to curb the proliferation of illegal firearms in Gauteng, police recovered 21 firearms, which include automatic rifles,” said police spokesperson Colonel Mavela Masondo. “These weapons will undergo ballistic testing to determine whether they were used in the commission of serious and violent crimes.”
The arrested suspects are scheduled to appear in various Magistrates’ Courts across Gauteng on Monday. Some were released after paying admission of guilt fines.
Operation Shanela forms part of an ongoing provincial strategy to tackle crime through intensified policing, intelligence-led operations, and community engagement.