Police have identified 331 polling stations as high-risk nationwide ahead of Wednesday's local government election.
Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, SAPS spokesperson, says the risk is linked to possible service delivery protest marches, community unrest and other security incidents. KwaZulu-Natal has the most high-risk polling stations at 165, of which 124 are in the eThekwini district. Gauteng follows with 119, of which 75 are in Johannesburg, 23 in Ekurhuleni and 14 in Tshwane. In the Western Cape, 33 polling stations, all in the City of Cape Town, have been classified as high-risk. Mpumalanga has 11 and the Eastern Cape three. No high-risk polling stations have been recorded in the North West, Limpopo, the Northern Cape or the Free State.
General Fannie Masemola, national police commissioner, says police are ready to ensure the election proceeds safely and peacefully. Operational plans include increased police visibility, mobile operational teams and assistance from specialised units. The SAPS is working with the South African National Defence Force, metropolitan police and the state security agency.
Police have also expressed concern over attacks and murders of political supporters, party members and ward candidates. According to the latest Natjoints figures, 139 election-related criminal cases have been registered nationwide, 48 suspects have been arrested and 25 cases have already been enrolled in court. The security structures are appealing to political parties, candidates and voters to avoid violence and intimidation and to ensure the election process proceeds peacefully.
This article is an automatic English translation of a Nuusflits article originally published in Afrikaans. Read the Afrikaans original.
