Breaking news: 717 Suspects arrested

The South African Police Service (SAPS) and the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) continue to achieve commendable breakthroughs in the fight against illegal mining, organised crime, and gang violence through Operation PROSPER.

Coordinated, intelligence-driven operations conducted across multiple provinces between 01 and 22 July 2026 resulted in the arrest of 717 suspects for various offences, as well as the seizure of 24 illegal firearms and 1 928 rounds of ammunition.

Suspects of various nationalities were arrested for illegal mining-related offences and other serious crimes, including murder, unlawful possession of explosives, and possession of suspected stolen property.

These operations form part of Operation PROSPER, a joint national initiative led by SAPS and the SANDF to combat crime, and restore peace and stability to affected provinces.

Breakdown of Arrests

The multidisciplinary operations yielded significant arrests in the following crime categories during this period:

One for murder

213 for drug-related offences

15 for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition

Eight for illegal possession of ammunition

Six for illegal possession of firearms

265 for contravention of the Immigration Act

26 for possession of dangerous weapons

Two for contravention of the Explosives Act

181 suspects were arrested for other crimes, including robbery, assault GBH, theft of motor vehicles, and possession of suspected stolen motor vehicles.

Items Recovered and Confiscated

Joint operational teams recovered and confiscated the following items across five provinces:

14 commercial explosives

Five explosives accessories

One landmine

Gold-bearing material

Precious metals

Two stolen vehicles

Drugs in varying quantities, including dagga, mandrax, heroin, and CAT

Mining Equipment Seized During the Same Period:

59 generators

28 jackhammers

26 steelers crushers

14 stampers

11 water pumps

Nine oxygen cylinders

Six phendukas

Provincial Highlights and Crackdowns:

Multidisciplinary teams executed highly coordinated raids across provincial mining belts:

Gauteng: On Tuesday, 07 July 2026, more than 150 suspects were arrested for illegal mining-related offences during operations at Losberg Kloof Mine in Westonaria. In Springs, more than 50 undocumented foreign nationals were arrested during operations at the Gugulethu and Everest informal settlements for contravening the Immigration Act.

Free State: Working alongside private security between 11 and 16 July 2026, SAPS and SANDF focused on illegal mining hotspots in Odendaalsrus, Allanridge, Theunissen, and Welkom. This resulted in the arrest of 12 suspects and the recovery of dagga and suspected Gold-Bearing Material (GBM).

Joint anti-gang operations targeted key violence hotspots in the Eastern Cape, Western Cape, and Gauteng:

Eastern Cape: Joint operational teams conducted raids across Gqeberha—including KwaZakhele, Walmer Location, and New Brighton—recovering one Black Taurus revolver, six rounds of ammunition, and 36 live rounds. On 12 July 2026, anti-gang patrols in Humansdorp resulted in the arrest of a 27-year-old suspect and the recovery of an unlicenced firearm and ammunition.

Western Cape: In Khayelitsha, members of Operation PROSPER arrested a 21-year-old suspect for illegal possession of a firearm and eight rounds of ammunition. In a separate raid on Krwaca Street, team members arrested a 34-year-old suspect at his residence, seizing a Vektor firearm and 39 rounds of ammunition.

Operations targeting drug trafficking in the Western Cape led to further key arrests:

In Bellville, a follow-up operation resulted in the arrest of a 42-year-old male found in possession of 18 small packets of cocaine, three medium packets of cocaine, two packets of crystal meth, 30 mandrax tablets, and 30 ecstasy tablets.

In Hanover Park, teams apprehended a 47-year-old female suspect found with 50 units of heroin.

Honouring Fallen Members

Operation PROSPER tragically suffered the loss of four SA National Defence Force members on 15 July 2026 and 17 July 2026. A memorial service was held in their honour on Thursday, 23 July 2026, at the Regina Mundi Catholic Church in Soweto.