Police announced that approximately 500 thousand people were arrested between April and September

JOHANNESBURG – Police say almost half a million people were arrested between April and September.

On Monday, police management held a briefing in Pretoria and gave details of recent successes in tackling cash heists, illegal mining operations and drug trafficking.

This comes at a time when police are preparing for the festive season.

More arrests, more convictions; This is what police claim to have achieved between April and September of 2024 compared to previous years.

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

“A total of 445,688 suspects were arrested from April 1, 2024 to September 31, 2024. This is an increase of 16,819 people compared to the first period of the previous fiscal year.”

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

“635 life sentences were given to 431 criminals.”

He said that the majority of life imprisonment sentences were given to defendants of murder, rape, house robbery and business robbery.