Policing unions and opposition parties have criticised a government programme aimed at addressing the crime scourge in SA — ranked among the most dangerous countries in the world — saying it was not doing enough to curb the social ill.
The crime problem in SA has become a political hot potato with many saying it is preventing potential investors from investing in one of Africa’s largest and most diversified economies, thus losing out on much-needed jobs and economic growth.
Operation Shanela was launched on May 8 2023 and consists of regular stop-and-search events, roadblocks, vehicle check points, high visibility patrols including foot patrols, the tracing of wanted suspects with a focus of murder and rape suspects, compliance inspections at liquor outlets and second-hand good dealers, according to police national spokesperson Brig Athlenda Mathe.
Since its inception, the programme has resulted in the arrest of over 55,000 suspects wanted for murder, rape and possession of illegal firearms.
According to global data and business intelligence platform Statista, in 2024, SA had a crime index of 75.4, “which is to be considered high”.
On May 18, former police minister Bheki Cele abandoned plans to release the fourth quarter crime stats for 2023/24 at the 11th hour, prompting the DA to describe the move as a “blatant attempt to avoid embarrassment before the election on May 29 and an unacceptable politicisation of statistics which are in the public interest”.
During the period, 7,710 people were murdered, almost 3,000 were raped, 4,577 were kidnapped, 53,513 were violently assaulted, and there were 46 cash-in-transit heists.
The DA said there was no doubt that the fourth quarter crime statistics “are following this upward trend which is why” Cele ran scared.
According to Mathe, Operation Shanela (loosely translated to “sweep clean”) has been making significant inroads since its launch. For the week of August 12-18, the programme led to the arrest of nearly 14,000 suspects across the country. Those arrested were wanted in connection with murders, rapes, business robberies, attempted murders, possession of illegal firearms, drug dealing, drunk driving, and hijacked and stolen vehicles, among other crimes.
But Richard Mamabolo, national spokesperson of the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) is not impressed.
“We don’t have a problem with Operation Shanela [because] there seems to be action taken against criminality, but it’s not big enough. We never get reports about how many people get processed through our courts. If Operation Shanela seems to be so successful, then how many of those arrested are found guilty and jailed? The crime statistics do not tell us that,” Mamabolo said.
“We need to get all those factors in to be able to see where the challenges are. Now it’s just about figures: we arrested so many, but arresting alone doesn’t mean a person is guilty,” he said.
DA MP and party spokesperson on police Ian Cameron said: “I think Shanela is a good operation to dominate unstable or hostile criminal environments and can help to stabilise regions and bring a little instant relief from violent crime to communities.
“Unfortunately, I don't think that many of these suspects actually get successfully prosecuted and it may be a short while before they are back out on the streets again. As I said several times to the previous minister, all the arrests mean little or nothing without proper investigation and prosecution.”
SA Policing Union (Sapu) national spokesperson Lesiba Thobakgale said: “Sapu welcomes any form of initiatives inclusive of different operations that seeks to address the high levels of crime that has since engulfed our society at large, where the police are making strides to remove those perpetrators who are roaming our streets in pursuit of terror to the inhabitants of the republic and their property.”
Thobakgale said: “There is a need to have more practical interventions on top of different operations that will galvanise crime fighting efforts like re-establishment of specialised units like firearms unit that has capabilities to track illegal firearms everywhere and remove them from the streets as it is known that most crimes committed, illegal firearms are used to aggravate the criminal action.”
Police minister Senzo Mchunu’s spokesperson, Kamogelo Mogotsi, said one of the police ministry’s priorities was the need to heighten and enhance police visibility, “which we believe is a critical tool in deterring crime”.
“We have seen the effectiveness of Operation Shanela, our streets have been cleaned up because of it. We are in full support of the national commissioner, provincial commissioners and their teams as they continue to prevent and combat crime as well as intercept criminals,” Mogotsi said.
“From August 12 to August 18 2024, 13, 919 suspects have been arrested nationwide, through the implementation of Operation Shanela. Multidisciplinary teams across the length and breadth of our country have been hard at work, intercepting, dismantling the work of organised crime syndicates operating in the country. Operation Shanela plays a vital role in curbing crime throughout the country.”
Mogotsi said the operation was not a PR stunt as it had yielded results: “The public is given updates on a regular, with regard to the successes of the operations as well as the figures. Once individuals are arrested, the law does take its course and all the necessary court processes are carried out.”
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.