National Police Commissioner General Fanie Masemola says Operation Shanela, aimed at fighting rising crime in South Africa, has led to over 900,000 arrests in the past 17 months.
While some people were uneasy with aggressive police actions, Masemola noted many had regained confidence in the SAPS.
Addressing a media briefing on Monday, Masemola said that, against the backdrop of mixed public reactions following incidences of crime that shocked the nation, an “equally decisive police response … renewed public confidence in the work of the South African Police Service”.
Operation Shanela involves stop-and-search checks, roadblocks, and tracking down wanted suspects.
“We continue to stamp police authority through increased police visibility, coordinated bold and decisive law enforcement operations and, most importantly, improved community participation in the fight against crime,” Masemola said.
Despite these successes, Masemola emphasised that more action is needed in provinces like the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, and the Western Cape.
Mass shootings in these areas, often involving illegal, high-calibre firearms, have pushed police to improve their crime-fighting strategies continuously. These provinces receive the largest number of new officers each year to boost police presence.
Since April, police have seized more than 4,400 firearms from criminals.
To further strengthen their forces, Masemola invited former police officers who left in good standing to reapply and help “put more boots on the ground”.
Pictured above: National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola addressing the media on Monday in Pretoria.
Source: SAPS
