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SAPS Easter Blitz Nets 15,840 Arrests and Shuts 532 Illegal Taverns

The results signal tougher holiday policing that zeroes in on drunk driving, illegal liquor sales, and gun crime.

Overview

  • Nationwide operations led by the South African Police Service produced 15,840 arrests and seized 132 illegal firearms with 1,097 rounds of ammunition.
  • Police closed 532 unlicensed taverns and arrested 773 people for selling alcohol without permits, with the largest shares in KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga.
  • Drunk driving enforcement led to 1,419 arrests, while the Road Traffic Management Corporation reported 934 DUI arrests from Thursday to Saturday and a 39% year‑on‑year rise for that period.
  • Officers arrested 1,744 people for drug possession, led by the Western Cape with 737 cases, and confiscated 747 dangerous weapons such as knives.
  • SAPS coordinated high‑visibility patrols and roadblocks with traffic agencies across provinces, and officials say follow‑up investigations and road‑safety checks will continue after the weekend.