Operation Shanela kicks dust in the Northern Cape Province
Operation Shanela remains intentional in rooting out illicit mining and stabilizing crime in the Northern Cape.
This was evident in the operational successes achieved during intensified disruptive police actions across the province for the period Thursday, 28 September 2023 until Sunday, 01 October 2023 with a sharp focus on the reduction of contact and violent crimes in hotspots which netted a multitude of successes.
Actions and police activities executed during the operations included, integrated illegal mining normalisation operations at Kleinsee in the Namakwa district, vehicle check points (VCP’s), stop and searches, foot and vehicle patrols, compliance inspections, drugs and other cross border commodities smuggling and tracing operations by detectives. 134 Daily wanted suspects were traced by detectives across the province during tracing operations.
Numerous roadblocks along the N1 in the Pixley Ka Seme district and the N7 and N14 in Namakwa were held with special focus on cross border in-transit crimes that includes focusing on illegal or undocumented immigrants and the trafficking of non-ferrous metals.
18 Undocumented persons and a farm owner were arrested at a farm in Loxton and the farm owner was taken to task for harbouring illegal immigrants.
705 Firearms, Liquor and Second Hand Goods (FLASH) compliance inspections under the cross border operations were conducted in Pixley Ka Seme, Frances Baard and Namakwa Districts from Monday, 25 September until Thursday, 28 September 2023, that resulted in 2 licensed liquor outlets being closed and owners charged for non- compliance of the Northern Cape Liquor Act as well as a “Mashonisa” or loan shark being nabbed with SASSA cards, ID documents, and bank cards and was charged for the Contravention of the National Credit Act.
Numerous operational successes were achieved:
The Wrenchville and Mothibistad police in the JTG District seized illicit cigarettes from a foreign national valued at more than R1 million rand, an enquiry case was registered and being investigated, awaiting verification by customs officials.
Police actions also resulted in the confiscation of a firearm and ammunition from a 68-year-old suspect in Deben.
The police in their quest to end illicit mining in the Kleinzee area in the Namakwa district , following the recent arrest of illegal miners, deployed a detached normalization task team to prevent the reoccurrence of criminal activities in that area.
Nine days after the clean-up operations, police were successful in arresting 92 illegal miners for trespassing, undocumented/illegal immigrants, illegal mining, damage to essential infrastructure and dealing in and possession of drugs.
Numerous mining implements and equipment ranging from generators, sieves, jack hammers, iron rods, cash, bags of suspected diamond bearing gravel, spades, drugs, copper wires and cables, copper piping, copper burning instruments and brass pipe fittings were seized.
The Provincial Commissioner of the Northern Cape, Lt General Koliswa Otola indicated that she issued a stern warning to those harbouring illegal immigrants. It is an offence and will lead to prosecution.
She thanked the public who are committed and consistent in supporting the efforts of the police.
“If you see it, say something”.
Source: South African Police Service