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The South African Police Service (SAPS) arrested 26 suspects during a three-day operation targeting gang activity in several Western Cape areas. The coordinated sweep, called Operation Lockdown III, focused on gang-linked crimes in Manenberg, Elsies River, Kensington, Wynberg, Lentegeur, and Delft.
What Happened
Between 2 and 4 November 2025, SAPS units intensified their anti-crime efforts under Operation Lockdown III, a national drive to curb gang violence and drug trafficking.
Officers detained several known gang members for possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition, drug dealing, possession of a hijacked vehicle, and discharging a firearm in a public area.
They also caught a wanted escapee who broke out of lawful custody in October 2024 while awaiting trial for gang-related murder. After tracking his movements, police located and arrested him in Lentegeur through an intelligence-led operation.
Official Response
Police teams confiscated four unlicensed firearms, rounds of ammunition, drugs, a hijacked vehicle, state-owned petrol cards, a card machine, and cash believed to be linked to criminal activity.
“The team used reliable intelligence to trace and capture the escapee,” SAPS said.
Ongoing investigations will determine whether the suspects and seized weapons connect to other violent crimes across the province.
Community Impact
Operation Lockdown III forms part of SAPS’s broader push to combat gangsterism, extortion, and drug-related violence in the Cape Flats. It brings together experts from multiple units, including the Anti-Gang Unit (AGU), Tactical Response Team (TRT), Public Order Policing (POP), and Crime Intelligence.
Communities plagued by gang violence have welcomed the arrests. Many believe this coordinated crackdown will help restore safety, trust, and stability in affected neighborhoods.
