Women in the South African Police Service (SAPS), alongside various stakeholders, led a joint operation in Welkom and Thabong. The operation was led by Colonel Senobia Solomon on 28 August 2026.
The operation consisted of female members from various SAPS units, including #VisiblePolicing, Detectives, K9 Unit, Vehicle Crime Investigation Unit (VCIU), Corporate Communication, Supply Chain Management, Human Resources, Public Service Act (PSA) and #WomensNetwork. SAPS collaborated with other stakeholders, including the Department of Home Affairs (DHA), Department of Employment and Labour and Environmental Health Services under the Lejweleputswa District.
During the operation, business inspections were conducted and documents were verified. Several arrests were made for contraventions of the Immigration Act, possession of suspected stolen property, and two businesses were closed down for non-compliance.
During a tracing operation led by Colonel Thenjiwe Mkhumbeni on 27 August 2026, 13 suspects were traced and arrested for various offences in Kutlwanong and Odendaalsrus. One (1) suspect was arrested for assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm (GBH), seven (7) were arrested for common assault, two (2) for malicious damage to property and three (3) for theft.
Other actions conducted on 26 August 2026 included an awareness campaign as part of the soft approach, where Odendaalsrus Social Crime Prevention, CPF, Youth Desk and Lejweleputswa District Women’s Network distributed pamphlets in the Odendaalsrus CBD, addressing issues of domestic violence, Gender-Based Violence (GBV), sexual offences and other crimes.
#PartnershipPolicing #fightingcrime #policeVisibility #OperationBasadi