By Thapelo Molefe
In a sweeping crackdown on crime, the South African Police Service (SAPS) arrested 244,951 suspects over the festive season, dismantling crime syndicates, seizing thousands of illegal firearms, and securing convictions for violent offenders.
Among the most shocking figures, over 4,500 suspects were arrested for murder, nearly 4,000 for rape, and over 25,000 undocumented immigrants were taken into custody.
Announcing the results at a media briefing in Pretoria on Sunday, the National Commissioner General Fannie Masemola said criminals had nowhere to hide during this period.
“Our men and women in blue worked tirelessly to ensure the safety and security of our communities, holidaymakers, and tourists alike,” said Masemola.
The SAPS’ intensified operations focused on serious and violent crimes, resulting in thousands of arrests for murder, rape, aggravated robbery, and drug-related offenses.
A total of 4,501 suspects were arrested for murder and attempted murder, while 3,983 suspects were apprehended for rape and attempted rape.
In efforts to curb drug-related crimes, 27,376 individuals were detained for possession of drugs, with 4,675 facing charges for dealing.
Additionally, authorities arrested 1,952 suspects for illegal possession of firearms, alongside 1,380 individuals caught with illegal ammunition. Drunk driving remained a concern, with 9,540 motorists arrested for driving under the influence.
As part of their crackdown, SAPS confiscated 2,198 firearms, with the highest seizures recorded in KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, Eastern Cape, and the Western Cape.
The police also recovered 960 stolen and hijacked vehicles and seized R4 million in cash.
Highlighting the significance of these operations, Masemola said: “Firearms remain a big problem in South Africa as most serious and violent crimes, including murders, were committed with the use of a firearm.”
SAPS also made notable progress in combating gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF). Between October and December 2024, 685 GBVF perpetrators were convicted and sentenced to prison, with 110 offenders receiving life sentences.
A further 71 were sentenced to 20 years or more, while 174 received sentences ranging from 10 to 19 years.
Reinforcing SAPS’ commitment to tackling gender-based crimes, Masemola said: “Our men and women in blue remain relentless in tracking, tracing, apprehending, and prosecuting GBVF perpetrators.”
In addition to tackling violent crimes, SAPS continued its Operation Vala Umgodi crackdown on illegal mining, leading to the arrest of over 18,000 suspects, most of whom were illegal immigrants.
The operation resulted in the seizure of 458 firearms and 12,000 rounds of ammunition, along with 283 trucks, 303 vehicles, and 84 pieces of heavy machinery.
Authorities also confiscated R5 million in cash and uncut diamonds valued at R32 million, highlighting the scale of illicit mining operations in the country.
To strengthen crime prevention efforts, SAPS increased its manpower in December 2024 by deploying 2,699 newly trained constables to high-crime areas.
Further bolstering its ranks, Masemola said an additional 5,500 police trainees have commenced training this week.
Masemola also emphasised the importance of growing the force.
“In the last three years, we have trained and deployed more than 20,000 constables to bolster our crime-fighting efforts,” he said.
Looking ahead, he said SAPS aims to sustain its crime-fighting momentum in 2025 with a strategic focus on expanding Operation Shanela for high-density crime combatting, strengthening crime intelligence units, enhancing technology at 10111 call centers, and increasing detective capacity and community-police relations to improve public safety across South Africa.
Masemola closed the briefing by urging public cooperation.
“We request South Africans to work with us and not against us in this fight to rid our country of callous criminals. If you see something, say something by calling 08600 10111,” he said.
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