At least 20 people were arrested during this operation conducted since 10:00, with 38 law enforcement officers from the Police, Traffic, and Home Affairs’ Immigration Office. Those who were arrested were charged with traffic offences and contravening the Immigration Act. 

Detective Coordinator Zengani Jamba from the Mangaung Metro District told OFM News on the sideline of the operation on Thursday afternoon that the operation is all over Bloemfontein to ensure the law is abided by motorists and everyone on the road.

A  woman was arrested by a Police and Immigration Law officer during Operation Shanela. Picture: Lucky Nkuyane

“We want to ensure that you'll see us on the roads in and out of Bloemfontein leading to (either Johannesburg or other areas). We are not tolerating any criminal activities in our district.”

Some of the suspects who were arrested during Operation Shanela were found in possession of fraudulent South African passports, among others.

A Lesotho national was arrested during Operation Shanela on the N1 outside Bloemfontein with a fraudulent South African passport. Picture: Lucky Nkuyane

By the time of publication, at least 200 vehicles had already been searched by the officials conducting this operation, including minivans, bakkies, and trucks.

The Navalsig Police Station Commander Henry Moorcroft, who was leading the operation, told OFM News on the scene that 16 traffic offences were captured and eight undocumented immigrants were arrested today.

"We have our K9 members here, we also have our first unit conducting the search and public order policing on the scene, assisting officials. We are ready, doing our job and we have zero tolerance.” 

On Wednesday (23/08), National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola said the organisation’s high-density Operation Shanela is making strides and progress in the fight against crime. He said the nationwide operations on Wednesday led to the arrest of 109 540 suspects as a result of the heightened police visibility.

“Operation Shanela’s success rests on a multidisciplinary and integrated approach in fighting crime, working together with various government departments and law enforcement agencies such as local, metro, and traffic police officials.

"The focus of these operations includes regular roadblocks, tracing of wanted suspects, searches at premises, cordons, and searches at problematic hostels, unlicensed liquor premises, compliance inspections at licensed liquor outlets, second-hand goods dealers, scrapyards, informal businesses such as spaza shops, to ensure labour law compliance and compliance visits at mines and farming areas,” he added.

In the past week alone, from 14 to 20 August 2023, a total of 9 656 suspects were arrested in the Free State for various crimes. From 8 May to date, 1 550 illegal and unlicensed firearms were recovered. 

The breakdown of recoveries is as follows, to date:

- 744 vehicles were recovered – either stolen or hijacked 

- 129 499 kilograms of copper cable were recovered

- 374 138 items of counterfeit goods were recovered

Danie van Biljon from SA Tracker and his wife, Marcha, with Navalsig Police Station commander, Henry Moorcroft. Picture: Lucky Nkuyane

The breakdown of countrywide arrests is as follows:

- 13 603 wanted suspects for murder, rape and other crime were arrested

- 10 645 illegal immigrants were arrested for being in the country illegally

- 1 512 suspects were arrested for murder

- 1 090 for attempted murder

- 1 694 suspects were arrested for rape

- 4 129 suspects were arrested for dealing in drugs

- 8 051 suspects were arrested for being in possession of drugs

- 433 car hijackers were arrested 

OFM News/Lucky Nkuyane and Kekeletso Mosebetsi