DNA leads police to 17 murder suspects in massive North West crackdown

More than 500 wanted suspects, including 17 linked to murder, have been quietly living undetected across the North West province until last week, when police used forensic DNA evidence to track and arrest them as part of a sweeping crackdown that netted over 1 100 people in seven days.

The arrests came during Operation Shanela II, a joint law enforcement campaign conducted last week, September 1 to 7, 2025.

Of the 1 132 suspects arrested, 555 were identified as previously circulated suspects, now positively linked to crimes ranging from murder, rape, and robbery to drug offences and assault.

The suspects include 17 for murder, 14 for attempted murder, 10 for rape, nine for robberies, nine for burglaries, 202 for assaults, seven for illegal dealing in drugs, 132 for possession of drugs, 32 for selling of liquor without licences, 40 for driving under the influence of liquor, 14 for malicious damage to property and six for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.

The operation also led to the seizure of three illegal firearms, 411 rounds of ammunition, various drugs, liquor, and dangerous weapons.

Police also nabbed 56 illegal migrants for contravention of section 49 of the Immigration Act, 2002. They are being processed through the courts and face deportation by the Department of Home Affairs.

In a separate incident on Wednesday, September 3, 2025, police officers in Ventersdorp spotted a truck parked along the N14 between Coligney and Ventersdorp in the early morning hours. Inside the truck, they found copper cable that the occupants could not explain.

Dzikamai Christoffer Sangodimambo, 29, and Lovemore Mushayavanhuti, 44, were arrested on the scene and appeared in the Ventersdorp Magistrate's Court on Thursday, September 4, 2025, for possession of suspected stolen property. The two were remanded in custody until their next appearance on Thursday, September 11, 2025.

The cables, valued at R316 755, were confirmed stolen from Transnet infrastructure in the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District. Authorities said further charges may follow as the investigation progresses.

Acting Provincial Commissioner Major General Patrick Asaneng said: “Theft of non-ferrous metals especially copper and aluminium, including incidents of tampering with or damage to critical infrastructure, pose a serious threat to the economic security and development of the country and hopefully, the arrest of the suspects by the police in Ventersdorp will lead to the identification and arrest of the real mastermind of what is obviously a lucrative transnational organised crime.”

The public is encouraged to report crime through SAPS Crime Stop at 08600 10111, the MySAPS mobile app, or the Extortion hotline at 080 091 1011.