Police in Gauteng arrested 763 wanted suspects during a weekend of festive season operations across the province, the South African Police Service (SAPS) said.
The arrests were made between 23 and 25 October 2026 under Safer Festive Season Operation Shanela II. Police said the suspects were wanted for serious and violent crimes. Of them, 158 were sought for crimes against women and children.
Gauteng Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Tommy Mthombeni said police would keep up the pressure on criminals for the rest of the festive season, according to SAPS. He said this would be done through intelligence-driven operations and visible policing.
“The Gauteng provincial commissioner, Lieutenant General Tommy Mthombeni, commended all participating role players for their continued collaboration and commitment to combating crime,” SAPS spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi told SABC News.
Police said the operations ran in all five districts of Gauteng. They included roadblocks, patrols, stop-and-search actions, compliance inspections and the tracing of wanted suspects.
The weekend also targeted drug crimes. According to SAPS, 13 suspects were arrested for dealing in drugs. Another 15 people were arrested for possession of drugs.
Police said 83 illegal foreign nationals were also taken into custody during the operations.
Officers also acted against the illegal sale and use of alcohol. Police closed 23 liquor outlets that broke the Gauteng Liquor Act, SAPS said.
On the roads, 92 motorists were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol. A further 16 people were arrested for drinking in public.
Mthombeni thanked the groups that took part in the operations, police said. These included SAPS members, metro police departments, the Department of Home Affairs and Gauteng Traffic Police. Private security companies and community policing forums also took part.
SAPS said the festive season operations were giving positive results. The police service said the aim was for Gauteng residents to have a safe festive period.
Police asked the public to help by reporting crime. “Members of the public are urged to support police efforts by reporting any criminal activities to the Crime Stop line on 08600 10111 or through the MySAPS app, which can be downloaded on any smartphone,” Nevhuhulwi said.
SAPS said all information shared with police through these channels will be treated as confidential.
Source: this article is based on reporting by SABC News. Image: SABC News. Written with the help of AI and published by the Tzaneen Voice News desk. See our Editorial Standards.
Kgomotso Maake covers news and politics for Tzaneen Voice. Kgomotso reports on government, Parliament, municipalities, courts, crime and service delivery across South Africa, with a close eye on how national decisions reach towns like Tzaneen and the wider Limpopo province. Stories are written in plain English and focus on the facts: who made the decision, what it means, and what happens next.