Free State police arrest 1,039 suspects in a week as festive season crackdown bites
Operation Shanela II, run with the SANDF, traffic police and other departments between 23 and 29 October, also traced and arrested 329 wanted suspects across the province.
Free State police arrested 1,039 suspects in a week of intensified operations across the province, the South African Police Service said, with detectives tracing and arresting 329 circulated wanted suspects between 23 and 29 October 2026.
The arrests came under Operation Shanela II, run as part of the Safer Festive Season programme, with police working alongside the SANDF, traffic police, law enforcement and various government departments.
The deployment was concentrated on firearms, murder, rape and the trio crimes of carjacking, house robbery and business robbery, as well as cash-in-transit robbery and street robbery. Roadblocks, vehicle checkpoints and semi-permanent checkpoints were set up at identified hotspots across the province.
Lieutenant General Thabang Solomon Lesia, the province’s police commissioner, commended the role-players for their work and said the festive season operations would continue throughout the festive period and beyond.
The police did not say in the statement how many of the 1,039 suspects remained in custody, what charges they face or how the arrests break down by offence. The 329 wanted suspects were arrested on existing warrants and circulated cases.
- AK-47 seized as four held over planned ATM bombing in Limpopo 2026-10-25
- Four arrested in Muden with AK47 and 159 rounds, police link them to anti-illegal-foreigner marches 2026-10-29
- Pistol with its serial number scratched off found in Bityi room as police arrest man, 49 2026-10-30
- Six arrested, R500 000 in copper cables seized after K9 unit chases down minibus on the N2 2026-10-30
- Gun found in teenager's groin as Eldorado Park officers chase gang fight gunshots 2026-10-30
- R975 000 of explosives in a taxi van: two men held after Kranskop Plaza stop, Modimolle court on Monday 2026-11-01
- R975 000 in explosives stopped on the N1, two men in court on Monday 2026-11-01
- R975 000 of explosives in one Quantum: N1 stop puts two men in the dock 2026-11-01
