"RAIN or no rain, we continue to do our work of enforcing the law."
These were the words of Gauteng acting police commissioner, Major-General Tommy Mthombeni, who led the multidisciplinary Operation Shanela in Mamelodi East, Tshwane on a rainy Saturday, 3 February.
He collaborated with other enforcement agencies including Home Affairs and Traffic Police officers.
Mthombeni said the operation is aimed at stamping the authority of the state and assisting the local police station with the reduction of crime.
This marked the province's first operation in Mamelodi without retired provincial police commissioner Lieutenant-General Elias Mawela, who officially retired on 31 January 2024.
"I must indicate that we started with suspect raiding on Friday, 2 February, where 696 suspects were arrested. We managed to at least arrest 10 undocumented persons, 12 drinking and driving motorists and recovered two stolen vehicles," he said.
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Mthombeni said cash in transit heists is a problem, and his message to thugs is that they must stop whatever they are doing and if they don't, they will feel the heat as they are sitting on top of fire.
"We will continue to do the operation activities to make sure our communities are safe," he said.
He said the prominent crimes that are reported by the community in the area include contact crimes, murders, assault common, hijackings, and house breakings.
Mthombeni said the retired Mawela left a very formidable team.
He said in the province, they conduct Operation Shanela every Thursday and Saturday.
"In Gauteng, we have challenges of illegal occupation of land and buildings, and we have a special operation. We also have the issue of illegal mining," he said.
He said that they are working on a strategy to tackle car hijackings and theft of motor, which includes tactical intelligence where information is gathered within different areas.
Mamelodi resident Mathapelo Maila (60) said: "The police are doing a great job with these roadblocks in order to fight crime. We are tired of crime in Mamelodi."
