Nearly 500,000 people arrested between April and September, police reveal

JOHANNESBURG – Police have revealed that almost half a million people were arrested between April and September.

On Monday, police leadership held a briefing in Pretoria, where they provided details of their recent successes in combating cash robberies, illegal mining activities and drug smuggling.

This while the police prepare for the holidays.

More arrests, more convictions: that’s what the police claim to have achieved between April and September 2024 compared to previous years.

National Police Commissioner Fanie Masemola said almost half a million people were arrested during this period.

“From April 1, 2024 to September 31, 2024, a total of 445,688 suspects were arrested. This is an increase of 16,819 people compared to the first half of the previous financial year.”

He said hundreds of life sentences were handed down during the same period.

“Six hundred and thirty-five life sentences were handed down to 431 accused criminals.”

He said the majority of life sentences were handed down to suspects of murder, rape, house robberies and business robberies.