Gauteng police have arrested 1031 suspects for various crimes during an operation dubbed Shanela.
The suspects include undocumented migrants.
The arrests were made on the weekend, and they are expected to appear in various courts soon.
#sapsGP [HAPPENING NOW] #OperationShanela will tonight be conducted. The Provincial Commissioner of the police in Gauteng, Lieutenant General Tommy Mthombeni, will be leading the multidisciplinary operation together with the Deputy Provincial Commissioner: Policing, Major General… pic.twitter.com/4BYIWOXwki
— SA Police Service
(@SAPoliceService) April 18, 2026
“The operation resulted in the arrest of 1,031 suspects for various crimes, including wanted suspects. Three hundred and seven of the arrests were effected by visible policing and include 103 illegal immigrants, 54 for dealing in or possession of drugs, 72 for drunk driving, and 32 for dealing in liquor without a licence, among others,” says Provincial police spokesperson Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi.
Gauteng police have arrested more than 1 200 suspects during its high-density operation, Operation Shanela, in Vanderbijlpark in the Vaal, south of Johannesburg, overnight into this morning. https://t.co/Ot6tYIz7aK pic.twitter.com/Fb9QkUreJ6
— SABC News (@SABCNews) January 29, 2026
Meanwhile, Nevhuhulwi says detectives in the province arrested 724 wanted suspects for serious and violent crimes.
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