Gauteng police have declared their New Year’s Eve safety operations a success, reporting a largely peaceful crossover into 2025 and the arrest of more than 1,100 suspects in a 24-hour period.
The police service, which had deployed significant resources to known crime hotspots across the province, stated that the festive season operations were part of a structured, multi-phase plan. Detailed statistics from the period are set to be released formally on Friday.
Speaking from the SAPS provincial headquarters in Parktown, Gauteng police spokesperson Brigadier Brenda Muridili provided an overview of the crossover operations from December 31 into the early hours of New Year’s Day.
“We crossed over incident free because all boots were on the ground,” said Muridili. “There was police visibility across the province.”
According to Muridili, a total of 1,160 suspects were arrested across Gauteng during that critical less-than-24-hour window. The arrests covered a range of offenses under ten operational focus areas, including legal compliance and combating domestic violence.
Notable figures from the crossover period include 117 arrests for domestic violence, over 50 arrests for drunken driving, and 57 arrests for drinking in public. Police also shut down more than 20 liquor outlets for non-compliance with the Liquor Act.
A key area of focus was Hillbrow, a neighborhood historically associated with extreme violence and littering during celebrations. Muridili reported that the area has not experienced violent crossover incidents for over five years, crediting sustained operational planning.
“The operational plan includes covering Hillbrow… it was a peaceful one,” Muridili stated, noting that police deployment is based on crime pattern analysis and known hotspot areas.
The operations were not limited to Johannesburg. Muridili emphasized that all district commissioners led visible operations with their members and stakeholders, including metro police, traffic authorities, and community policing forums.
While expressing satisfaction, Muridili acknowledged the limitations of police coverage. “We obviously [are] not going to be able to cover every corner of every street,” she said, highlighting the role of community patrollers and private security partnerships under the “Eyes and Ears” initiative as force multipliers.
In addition to alcohol-related offenses, police arrested nine individuals across the province for the illegal use of fireworks in violation of local bylaws.
Looking ahead, Muridili said police focus is now shifting to back-to-school safety operations. She thanked law-abiding citizens who heeded safety messages, interpreting lower-than-expected arrest numbers in some categories as a sign of public cooperation rather than a lack of police vigilance.
“When we see low numbers of arrest… we see it as residents or the public now beginning to heed the message,” she said.
The full statistical breakdown of arrests and incidents throughout the festive season, which has been under a dedicated operational plan since October 15, is expected to be released by police officials on Friday morning.