357 Suspects Arrested, Illegal Firearms Seized in Operation Shanela in Gauteng’s Katlehong Area

Gauteng—In a coordinated law enforcement effort, a total of 357 suspects were arrested and eight illegal liquor outlets were closed down in Gauteng.

According to a new release by South African Police Service, the crackdown involved a joint operation between SAPS, EMPD, Gauteng Traffic, CPF, Home Affairs, and other law enforcement agencies.

Specifically, in the Katlehong area, two individuals were arrested for the possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition during Operation Shanela on Saturday, 28 October 2023. While conducting their duties at Moleleki Extension 2, law enforcement officials approached a car wash where they noticed a man appearing to hide something in a car. A subsequent search led to the discovery of two AK47 rifles, a pistol, and additional ammunition.

Among the total arrests made over the weekend, 277 suspects were apprehended by detectives during their Shanela operations in the District Policing precincts. In a breakdown of the offenses, 129 suspects were arrested for contact crime, 21 for contact-related crime, five for property crime, two for tampering with essential infrastructure, five for crimes dependent on police action, and 34 for issues related to Gender-Based Violence.

Major General Anna Sithole, the Ekurhuleni District Commissioner, has commended the collective efforts of the various teams in addressing crime and the proliferation of unlicensed firearms in the district.