KZN police arrest nearly 14,000 suspects in April crime blitz

A sweeping police crackdown across KwaZulu-Natal has resulted in the arrest of nearly 14,000 suspects and the seizure of hundreds of weapons in April alone, underscoring both the scale of crime and intensified efforts to curb it. The South African Police Service (SAPS) in the province confirmed that 13,890 suspects were arrested during a series of operations, including the high-density Operation Shanela and routine daily policing. Police also recovered 303 firearms among them rifles, shotguns and homemade guns as well as 587 knives, which authorities say remain weapons commonly used in violent crimes, particularly murder.

Serious and violent crime featured prominently in the arrests. A total of 177 suspects were arrested for murder and 214 for attempted murder. Police also nabbed 196 suspects for robbery-related crimes, including carjackings, house and business robberies, and robberies with aggravating circumstances.

Assault continues to place pressure on communities, with 2,625 suspects arrested for assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and common assault. Police pointed to alcohol as a major driver behind these offences. This was further reflected in the 1,969 arrests for driving under the influence.

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The province’s ongoing battle against gender-based violence also saw significant action, with 215 suspects arrested for rape, 42 for sexual assault and 33 for other sexual offences. In addition, 294 people were arrested for contravening the Domestic Violence Act. Police also targeted illegal liquor trade and stock theft.

A total of 896 suspects were arrested for illegal dealing in liquor, while 29 suspects were arrested for stock theft. These operations led to the recovery of 16 cattle, 30 goats and 75,000 grams of meat suspected to be from stolen livestock. KwaZulu-Natal police credited community members and Community Police Forums for assisting in the arrests, saying many cases were cracked following tip-offs. Authorities said the operations will continue, calling on residents to work with law enforcement in isolating criminals and strengthening crime-fighting efforts across the province.

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