Police held another Operation Shanela in seven phases led by the West Rand District Police commissioner Major General Lorraine Challen. The operation took place on July 10 and yielded 100 arrests.
Other law enforcement services at the operation included the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), the Department of Home Affairs, Gauteng Traffic Police, Gauteng Traffic Wardens, Siyabangena community patrollers, and security companies.
According to West Rand District Police spokesperson Captain Solomon Sibiya, high-density activities started at 07:00 with a focus on two policing precincts namely Mohlakeng and Randfontein.
This included conducting roadblocks, stop and searches, raiding of illegal taverns and illegal mining spots as well as the tracing of wanted suspects even illegal immigrants.
Arrests made included 40 people for contravening the Immigration Act, six for employing undocumented persons, two for owning drugs and two for dealing in liquor without a license.
The 50 arrests made by detectives included 15 for assault (GBV), eight for common assault, five for break-in and theft, one for business burglary, one for theft out of a motor vehicle, three for possession of an unlicensed firearm, three for possession of illegal ammunition, four for theft, two for fraud and seven for malicious damage to property.
Thirteen fines were issued to the value of R10 500. Of those fines, nine were road traffic violations and fines valued at R7 500 along with fines of R1 500 for non-compliance of the Second-Hand Goods Act. Fines worth R1 000 were also issued for contravention of the Counterfeit Goods Act and another fine to the value of R500 was issued for Contravention of the Pharmaceutical Act.
During initial arrests, law enforcement agencies further confiscated 104 875ml of liquor from illegal taverns and five packets of crystal meth, three packets of the street drug nyaope, 507 grams of dagga and R220 cash.
All arrested suspects will appear briefly in the Randfontein Magistrate’s Court soon.
