The Office of KZN Provincial Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi released February statistics regarding arrests and recoveries. Almost 12,000 suspects were arrested and hundreds of illegal firearms were recovered.
Image: Tumi Pakkies Independent Newspapers
Police in KwaZulu-Natal have dealt a massive blow to criminality in the province, arresting nearly 12,000 suspects and recovering hundreds of illegal firearms during high-density operations throughout February 2026.
In a statement released on Monday, the Office of the KZN Provincial Commissioner confirmed that 11,757 suspects were arrested for various crimes during Operation Shanela and routine daily policing.
The crackdown also saw a significant dent made in the proliferation of illegal firearms. Officers recovered 278 firearms, including:
Contact crimes accounted for the highest volume of arrests, with 3,568 individuals taken into custody. Among these were 166 suspects wanted for murder and 193 for attempted murder.
Robbery remains a high priority for provincial task teams. Police confirmed the arrest of 190 suspects for various robberies, including 54 for robbery with aggravating circumstances, 75 for house robberies, and 51 for business robberies.
The SAPS also highlighted its ongoing battle against Gender-Based Violence (GBV). February’s operations led to the arrest of:
Assault cases also dominated the dockets, with 1,655 arrests for assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH) and 902 for common assault.
Efforts to protect the property of KZN residents resulted in 214 arrests for residential burglaries and 78 for business break-ins.
Rural safety operations targeting stock theft led to 52 arrests. During these raids, police recovered 24 stolen cattle, 51 goats, and over 4,000 grams of meat suspected to be from stolen livestock.
The fight against illicit drug trade saw 1,704 suspects arrested for drug-related offences. On the province’s roads, 742 motorists were intercepted and arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Additionally, 165 people were caught in illegal possession of firearms.
Provincial police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda attributed the success of these operations to the cooperation of the public.
"Most of the arrests were made possible through cooperation with community members," Netshiunda said. "Police are appealing to law-abiding residents to continue providing them with accurate tip-offs and reports about criminals who are terrorising communities."
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