Over 600 'high-profile' suspects nabbed countrywide

This was revealed by Hawks head Godfrey Lebeya.

Lebeya briefed the media on the progress and milestones achieved during the fourth quarter of the 2024/25 financial year.

These suspects were arrested for various crimes, including serious corruption, serious organised crime, serious commercial crime, including fraud, theft, money laundering, cybercrime, police killings, cash-in-transit robberies, terrorist activities, kidnapping for ransom, illegal mining, and trafficking in persons.

He says of those arrested, 74% were South Africans and 26% were foreign nationals, with Gauteng recording the most arrests.

"Of the 656 suspects, the Serious Organised Crime Investigation secured 364, the Serious Commercial Crime Investigation secured 220, while the Serious Corruption Investigation secured 72 suspects before court.  

"Most of the arrests were effected in Gauteng province with 139, North West province with 99, KwaZulu-Natal province with 88, Eastern Cape and Free State provinces with 73 suspects each.

-POLICE KILLINGS-

Lebeya has described police killings as an assault on society and an attack on the State.

Twenty-two police officials were killed during the period under review, of which 16 were on duty and six were off duty.

Fifty per cent of the police killings took place in Gauteng.

Lebeya said over 30 people had been arrested for crimes relating to the killings.

"Thirty-eight arrests were effected and 14 convictions with 11 life imprisonment sentences plus 487 years imprisonment were secured.  Over and above these killings of SAPS members, two metropolitan police officials were also killed."

The briefing comes amid the investigation into the deaths of three SAPS constables, Boipelo Senoge,  Cebekhulu Linda and Keamogetswe Buys.

The remains of the three police constables were discovered in the river along the N1 last week.

They were killed in a suspected car accident while on their way to Limpopo from the Free State.

-POLICE ARRESTS-

A total of 33 police officials had been arrested during the fourth quarter of the 2024/2025 financial year.

Of the 33 police officials arrested, 19 were traffic officials and 14 were South African Police Service officials.

"They were arrested for cases ranging from fraud, corruption, murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances and defeating the ends of justice. These officers were arrested in the Gauteng, Mpumalanga and Free State provinces," said Lebeya.

"Six police officials were convicted and sentenced for defeating the ends of justice, conspiracy to commit robbery, fraud and corruption."

-CASH-IN-TRANSIT HEISTS-

Lebeya added that 28 suspects have also been arrested for cash-in-transit robberies in he country.

Out of the 28, 10 died during police shootouts.

He said the Hawks reported 50 CIT robberies during the fourth quarter, and 13 convictions were secured.

"It is comforting that no one was released on bail. Thirty-six suspects were arrested in CIT-related cases, making a combined 64 arrests for CIT and related crimes. 13 convictions were secured in CIT and related cases."

Meanwhile, police in Gauteng are investigating an armed robbery and attempted murder following a cash-in-transit robbery in Thokoza, near Alberton.

A cash van was rammed by a car in Phola Park on Tuesday morning.

One of the suspects was severely injured.

The suspects fled the scene in three vehicles, with 10 men involved in the robbery.

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