18/02/2026
Operation Shanela 2 Continues To Stamp The Authority Of The State With 1784 Arrested Over Two Weeks
Johannesburg: AfricUpdate - News Desk
As part of ongoing efforts to stamp the authority of the State, weekly high-density Operation Shanela actions conducted between Monday, 2 February 2026 and Sunday, 15 February 2026, resulted in the arrest of 1784 suspects for various offences across the Province.
The multi-disciplinary operations focused on stop-and-search actions, roadblocks, Vehicle Check Points (VCPs), high-visibility patrols including foot patrols, tracing of wanted suspects, as well as inspections at 293 liquor outlets and 72 second-hand goods premises.
The arrested suspects include:
• 65 for murder
• 26 for robbery
• 81 for r**e
• 554 for assault with the intent to do grievous bodily harm (GBH)
• 147 for common assault
• 50 for burglary at business and residential premises
• 30 for illegal possession of fi****ms and/or ammunition
• 53 for contravention of the Immigration Act
• 92 for illegal dealing in liquor
• 23 for dealing in drugs
• 71 for possession of drugs
Out of the 1 784 suspects, 1 043 were circulated wanted suspects, who were traced and apprehended by Detectives after being linked to crimes through forensic DNA and other investigative leads.
During the operations, police confiscated various drugs, to***co products, and liquor, as well as eight fi****ms, two vehicles and 21 rounds of ammunition.
The Acting Provincial Commissioner of the North West, Major General (Dr) Ryno Naidoo, led a second Operation Shanela on Saturday night, 14 February 2026, in Wolmaransstad following concerns raised by community members regarding drug-related activities and crime.
The operational team comprised members from the North West Provincial Fi****ms, Liquor and Second Hand Goods (FLASH) Unit, Ani-Gang Unit, Potchefstroom Public Order Policing (POP), Crime Intelligence, and the North West Provincial Tracking Team. Members conducted stop-and-search operations and inspected various liquor outlets in and around Wolmaransstad and Makwassie.
In Wolmaransstad five men between the ages of 23 and 32 were arrested for possession of suspected illegal substances, including Mandrax and Crystal M**h, with an estimated street value of approximately R14 000.00. A 40-year-old man was issued with a fine for selling liquor without a license in Tselelang.
The team then proceeded to Makwassie, where a 23-year-old suspect was arrested for possession of suspected illegal substances. Mandrax and Crystal M**h with an estimated street value of R8000 were confiscated.
