By Johnathan Paoli
Over 200,000 suspects arrested in the police’s Operation Shanela have previous convictions.
In a parliamentary response to RISE Mzansi, Police Minister Senzo Mchunu revealed that of the 1,075,107 suspects arrested in the operation, 210,693 have previous convictions. This translates into approximately 20% of the suspects.
The party’s caucus whip, Makashule Gana, said on Sunday that during the next sitting of the Portfolio Committee on Police, RISE Mzansi would request that the police’s senior management provided a report on the effectiveness of the operation in reducing crime, as well as the rate of conviction when it came to arrests.
The operation is a special crime fighting campaign, which was launched in 2023. It includes tracking operations, roadblocks, high visibility patrols and stop and searches.
The party has welcomed what it describes as a mixed picture of the fight against crime in the country.
“RISE Mzansi remains committed to working with the SAPS and communities to build a safe South Africa, especially for women and children,” Gana said in a statement.
The parliamentary reply revealed that of the suspects arrested, 21,104 were have been released due to insufficient evidence.
A total of 386,198 cases are currently in court and 131,590 suspects have been released on bail.
The majority of the arrests fall under 12 categories including illicit dealing in drugs and alcohol, murder, rape, assault, drunken driving and illegal migrants.
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