The South African Police Service (SAPS) has arrested 18 634 suspects over the past week – signaling reaffirmation of public safety and the rule of law.
Among those arrested were 3 087 wanted individuals linked to serious and violent crimes, including murder, rape, hijacking and armed robbery. According to the police, 131 suspects were arrested for murder 140 for attempted murder and 157 for rape.
Meanwhile, 722 suspects were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, while 1714 suspects were nabbed for illegal migration offences.
A total of 106 suspects were arrested for illegal possession of firearms. KwaZulu-Natal led with 32 arrests; Eastern Cape followed with 21 arrests and Gauteng secured 19 arrests.
Police also arrested 232 suspects for drug trafficking.
The week’s operations also led to the seizure of high-value contraband and dangerous goods, including 18,882 units of abalone, 180 firearms, and 2 921 rounds of ammunition.
Meanwhile, SAPS National Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola, led a drug destruction process worth more than R 400 million in Gauteng.
In a separate enforcement operation, on Friday, 22 August 2025, the National Tracking and Tracing Task Team, under Operation Buyisa, seized 226 firearms from a registered private security company after uncovering serious contraventions of the Firearms Control Act, 2000 (Act 60 of 2000).
Additionally, a coordinated Inter-Provincial Operation led to the arrests of 116 suspects across Frances Baard, Namakwa, and Pixley Ka Seme in the Northern Cape. Major seizures in Colesberg included illicit cigarettes and a truck worth R7.5 million, plus stolen goods and a maroon VW Polo linked to criminal activity.
Recovered items spanned firearms, ammunition, counterfeit goods, drugs, alcohol, weapons, and cash. – SAnews.gov.za
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