
More than 1k suspects nabbed in Gauteng during Operation Shanela over the weekend
Thandoluhle Ngcobo 23 June 2025 | 6:39 Operation Shanela
South African Police Service (SAPS)
Gauteng
Picture: @SAPoliceService/X
JOHANNESBURG - Gauteng police have arrested more than 1,000 suspects and recovered 21 rifles during Operation Shanela crackdowns conducted over the weekend.
Of those arrested, 78 were charged with drunk driving, while 786 were arrested by detectives tracing wanted suspects.
READ: Over 200,000 Operation Shanela suspects have previous convictions The remaining arrests were made at roadblocks and during raids on illegal liquor outlets. Police spokesperson, Mavela Masondo, said the arrested suspects were expected to appear at various magistrates' courts around the province on Monday.
"Provincial commissioner of the police in Gauteng, Lieutenant-General Tommy Mthombeni led yet another successful integrated Operation Shanela in the West Rand. Parallel operations were conducted in Tshwane, Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni and Sedibeng districts, were 167 suspects were arrested."
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

IOL News
3 hours ago
- IOL News
Disarray in court as State fails to produce charges in high-profile SAPS fraud case
The case, which includes former acting police commissioner Kgomotso Phahlane, businessman Vimpie Phineas Manthata, and bookkeeper Judy Rose among the accused, was meant to proceed with evidence from SARS officials. The high-profile tax fraud trial tied to the SAPS 'blue lights' corruption scandal descended into chaos at the Palm Ridge Magistrates' Court today, after the prosecution failed to produce a valid charge sheet, despite claiming to be ready for trial. The case, which includes former acting police commissioner Kgomotso Phahlane, businessman Vimpie Phineas Manthata, and bookkeeper Judy Rose among the accused, was meant to proceed with evidence from SARS officials. Instead, it was marked by confusion, missing documentation, and fierce courtroom arguments. In a stunning turn, Defence Attorney Piet du Plessis, who represents Phahlane, called for the charges to be withdrawn entirely, stating that the State had repeatedly failed to meet even the most basic requirements for a fair trial. 'We are in 2025, and the State still does not have a charge sheet for a 2018 case. After 40 minutes of flailing, the prosecutor was still unable to produce a single valid charge sheet,' said Du Plessis. Tensions reached a boiling point when it was revealed that three different charge sheets had been circulated, none of them complete, and all riddled with discrepancies. The court had previously adjourned multiple times over the last few months due to procedural issues, but today's proceedings drew sharp criticism from all defence attorneys present. The presiding magistrate, clearly frustrated, confronted the State directly, asking the lead prosecutor whether, 'in light of the law,' he believed the matter was truly trial-ready. The prosecutor hesitated—then argued that the case was ready for trial. Adding to the disorder, one of the accused, referred to as 'Accused No. 9', remained without legal representation. The State attempted to push forward regardless, arguing that the absence of counsel for one accused should not halt the proceedings, as charges can be separated. The defence disagreed, pointing out that such a move would violate the constitutional rights of the individual and taint the fairness of the entire trial. As the proceedings spiralled further, Du Plessis and other legal representatives demanded that the charges be withdrawn and the matter struck from the roll until the State could demonstrate full preparedness. All defence teams agreed that the ongoing procedural failures made a fair trial impossible. Despite the State's earlier insistence that it had long been ready, Monday's session revealed the opposite. The prosecutor admitted, in response to questions from the magistrate, that several errors in the charge sheet were his own.'It was an oversight on my part; numbering and printing were the problem' The case centres around allegations of R19 million in tax fraud, linked to irregularities during the 2018/2019 tax year involving 'Instrumentation for Traffic Law Enforcement, a company owned by Manthata. Rose, employed as a bookkeeper, is accused of playing a key role in the alleged fraud. The charges are closely tied to the broader R191 million SAPS corruption investigation involving the irregular procurement of emergency blue light equipment. According to Investigating Directorate spokesperson Henry Mamothame, the State had planned to continue with evidence from SARS officials this week. That now hangs in limbo. The case will resume on Thursday, though it's unclear if the State will be able to rectify its documentation problems in time. The chaos in court has drawn criticism from legal experts and observers alike, many of whom see the debacle as emblematic of deeper challenges facing South Africa's justice system, particularly in high-level corruption cases.


The Citizen
4 hours ago
- The Citizen
An SANDF soldier that killed one of the two soldiers he stabbed turned the knife on himself
An SANDF soldier that killed one of the two soldiers he stabbed turned the knife on himself The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has clarified the events that led to the deaths of two soldiers and the injury of a third at the Macadamia Military Base near Komatipoort in the early hours of Saturday, June 21. Initial reports suggested a shooting, with some outlets reporting that a soldier had shot two colleagues before turning the weapon on himself. However, these claims were later corrected when it emerged that the incident had involved a stabbing, not a firearm. According to a statement issued by Rear Admiral Prince Tshabalala, director of corporate communication for the SANDF, a soldier entered a bungalow housing other members and allegedly threatened them with a knife. While some managed to flee, two remained inside. One of them was fatally stabbed and the other injured. The attacker later stabbed himself in the neck and died in hospital. 'The SANDF member allegedly attacked fellow soldiers inside the accommodation bungalow. One soldier died at the scene, another was injured, and the attacker later died in hospital from self-inflicted wounds,' said Tshabalala. He confirmed that the injured soldier was also hospitalised and that the SANDF, with support from the SAPS, had launched a full investigation to determine the facts. Members of the Military Health and Chaplain Services have been deployed to the base to offer support and counselling to personnel affected by the incident. Mpumalanga police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Jabu Ndubane initially declined to comment, citing protocol that designated the SANDF as the official communication channel. However, she later confirmed to SABC News that police had opened cases of murder, attempted murder and an inquest. ALSO READ: Standerton Regional Court sentences convicted serial rapist to another 25 years in jail 'As the police, we are investigating a case of murder, attempted murder and an inquest following an incident that occurred at the Macadamia Base Camp. We were informed of an alleged altercation among individuals at the base. Investigations are ongoing, and no arrests have been made at this stage,' she said. The identities of the deceased had not been released at the time of publication. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading! Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App here


The Citizen
6 hours ago
- The Citizen
No trace of 2 men believed to be trapped in Clewer mine shaft
No trace of 2 men believed to be trapped in Clewer mine shaft A tense and desperate search continues for two men believed to be trapped deep inside a sealed-off abandoned mine shaft near Clewer. Among the missing is 45-year-old Tshepo Motsiye, who vanished over two weeks ago after reportedly entering the disused Greenside Colliery mine for illegal mining activities. Since their disappearance on June 13, families, police, mine officials, and local community members have launched an ongoing search-and-rescue operation. However, the effort has been severely hampered by the extreme hazards posed by the mine's unstable and toxic environment. As the hours turn into days, anxiety and desperation continue to mount, particularly for Tshepo's family, who are still clinging to hope for his safe return. According to Captain Vusi Mnisi of Vosman SAPS, Tshepo was last seen leaving home, telling his girlfriend that he was heading to 'Vosman Circle'. When he failed to return and stopped responding to calls, his girlfriend raised the alarm and contacted his family on June 17. 'Tshepo just didn't come back,' said his sister, Nomsa Motsiye. 'We were worried immediately, but still held on to hope. Then a man came to our house, claiming he had been underground with Tshepo and others, but that Tshepo and another man got trapped.' Thungela Resources confirmed that on June 18, they were notified by concerned family members that two individuals from the local community may have gained unauthorised access to a sealed-off underground section of Greenside Colliery. Breaking news | No trace of two men believed to be trapped in an abandoned mine Read more here: #emalahleni #Vosman #SAPS — WitbankNews (@WitbankN) June 23, 2025 Despite extensive efforts led by SAPS Search and Rescue over the weekend, the whereabouts of the two missing men remain unknown. Hulisani Rasivhaga, Head of Communications at Thungela Resources, said, 'We are cooperating fully with SAPS, the affected families, and all relevant stakeholders to support the ongoing investigation and search.' Breaking news at your fingertips … Follow WITBANK NEWS on our website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or TikTok Chat to us: info@ At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!