Operation Shanela sees nearly 70 arrests: Majority for illegal immigrants and domestic violence
Criminals could not hide from the police even in the cold weather as a total of 66 arrests were made and 21 fines issued to the value of R16 500 during a recent Operation Shanela.
Police on the West Rand conducted another Operation Shanela last week, leading to 66 arrests.
Led by the newly appointed West Rand District Police Commissioner, Major General Lorraine Challen, in chilly weather conditions, the operation started at 07:00 to 15:00 on July 4 with the focus on two policing precincts –Bekkersdal and Westonaria.
Supporting Challen were the Krugersdorp Police Station Commander, Brigadier Happy Xaba and Kagiso Police Station Commander Brigadier Nyelisani Mabatha among others.
“The operation consisted of one roadblock, two crime prevention and flash groups conducting stop and searches, raiding of illegal shebeens, and two illegal mining groups while detective groups traced and searched for wanted and known suspects,” West Rand District Police spokesperson Captain Solomon Sibiya said.
Out of the 66 arrests made, Visible Policing (Vispol) groups made 22 arrests and detectives 44.
Arrests made by Vispol included contravening the Immigration Act, one arrest for possession of suspected stolen property and one arrest for possession of gold-bearing material.
The 44 arrests made by detectives included eight for domestic violence and another seven for GBV-related offences, eight for common assault, two for business burglary, one for theft out of a motor vehicle, seven for malicious damage to property, two for possession of drugs, one arrest for tampering with essential infrastructure, one arrest for the use of a motor vehicle without the owner’s consent and two arrests for the possession of drugs and another arrest for being in contempt of court.
During initial arrests, law enforcement agencies confiscated Toyota Hilux parts and illegal mining equipment.
Twenty-one fines were further issued during the operation, of which 20 were generated at a roadblock to the value of R16 500. An additional J534 worth R1 000 was issued for the Contravention of Counterfeit Goods Act.
All arrested suspects are expected to appear in the Westonaria Magistrate’s Court this week.
Challen thanked and applauded everyone for braving the cold weather and delivering on their mandate.
According to Sibiya, other law enforcement powers collaborating with police were Gauteng Community Safety, Gauteng Traffic Wardens, Rand West City Traffic, CPF structures, Intelligence Vehicle Tracking unit, Siyabangena community patrollers and security companies.
