July was a turbulent month for South Africa’s law enforcement — and not just because of the crime stats.
The country was rocked by explosive allegations of deep-rooted corruption and political interference within the police ranks, courtesy of KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkwanazi.
While the nation was still digesting those claims, KZN police dropped another report — this time focusing on the arrests and seizures they made throughout July. And the numbers? Jaw-dropping.
Over 12,000 Suspected Criminals Arrested
According to the new report, 12,624 individuals were arrested across KwaZulu-Natal in July alone.
The alleged crimes ranged from assault and murder to drug offenses and domestic violence.
These arrests were made thanks to both routine patrols and targeted operations carried out by various police units.
The scale of the operations suggests that, despite the controversy surrounding the leadership, boots on the ground are still working hard.
Tackling Violent Crime: Hundreds Arrested for Murder and Assault
A major focus for KZN police was violent crime. They managed to arrest:
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216 suspects for murder
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201 for attempted murder
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1,720 for assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm
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925 for common assault
That’s a total of nearly 3,000 people taken off the streets for violent offenses.
In total, 3,741 arrests were linked to contact crimes — an umbrella term that includes everything from physical assault to murder.
Firearms and Ammo Seized in Large Numbers
The month also saw significant seizures of weapons and ammunition:
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331 firearms were confiscated
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16,178 rounds of ammunition taken off the streets
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Police also uncovered 610 dangerous weapons, which included 536 knives and 36 machetes
These numbers reflect the kind of violence police officers are dealing with on a regular basis.
Crimes Against Women and Children: A Closer Look
Police say they’re making a stronger push against gender-based violence, and the numbers seem to back that up — at least for now:
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193 arrests for rape
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50 for sexual assault
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8 for attempted rape
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17 for other sexual offences
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204 for violating domestic violence laws
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4 for child abuse
While any number is still too high, the scale of arrests shows that these issues are being actively targeted.
Robberies, Drugs, and Drunk Driving: No Shortage of Offenses
Crime wasn’t limited to violence. Other key categories saw large arrest numbers too:
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201 suspects were caught for various robberies (business, home invasions, vehicle theft, and armed robbery)
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2,108 people arrested for drug-related crimes
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519 motorists were charged with drunk driving
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48 arrests were made for livestock theft
KwaZulu-Natal’s police clearly had their hands full last month — across every category imaginable.
Meanwhile, A National Inquiry Begins…
All of this, of course, is happening under the heavy cloud of allegations made by Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkwanazi himself.
Back in early July, Mkwanazi accused an entire syndicate of businesspeople, prosecutors, and judges of infiltrating South Africa’s law enforcement.
At a fiery press briefing, he even went as far as to suggest that Police Minister Senzo Mchunu played a role in disbanding a special task team investigating political assassinations in KwaZulu-Natal.
The fallout was swift: Mchunu was placed on special leave, and Firoz Cachalia, a former academic, was named as the new police minister.
A Commission of Inquiry is Now Underway
To get to the bottom of all this, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the creation of a Commission of Inquiry into Criminality, Political Interference, and Corruption in the Criminal Justice System.
The commission officially kicked off on July 13, led by Acting Deputy Chief Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga.
It’s expected to peel back the layers of corruption that have allegedly taken hold of the system — including within the police force itself.
So, Where Does That Leave Us?
It’s a strange contrast — on one hand, the KZN police force is making large-scale arrests and seizures.
On the other hand, the person leading that same force is blowing the whistle on what he claims is systemic rot from the top down.
This begs the question: can we really trust the results of police operations if the system itself might be compromised?
What Do You Think?
Do you believe Commissioner Mkwanazi’s claims about corruption inside SAPS? Are these arrests proof of progress — or just a distraction?