By the youth voice reporter
Nelspruit, Sunday 19 July 2026 – The ongoing Operation Shanela 2 and other crime combating operations resulted in the arrest of more than 1100 suspects and the recovery of 12 unlicensed firearms in Mpumalanga over the weekend. Out of those arrested, 54 were arrested for assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, 16 for murder, 18 for rape, 50 for driving while under the influence of alcohol and 111 illegal immigrants.
Other suspects were arrested for serious and violent crimes that include attempted murder, armed robbery, car hijacking and house robbery.
Mpumalanga Acting Provincial Commissioner, Major General (Dr) Zeph Mkhwanazi was joined by the Premier of Mpumalanga, Mr Mandla Ndlovu, the MEC for Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison, Mr Jackie Macie
and other senior police officers as he led the roadblock at Calcutta Policing Precinct.
Some of the suspects were released after paying admission of guilty fine while others will appear before different Magistrates’ courts in Mpumalanga on Monday, 20 July 2026.