By Charmaine Ndlela
Police have arrested six suspects and opened 21 criminal cases linked to the local government elections, as security forces warned that violence, intimidation and interference with voting would not be tolerated on Wednesday.
Deputy National Commissioner for Policing Lieutenant-General Tebello Mosikili said during a National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS) briefing on Tuesday evening that law enforcement agencies had intensified security measures ahead of voting.
The 21 case dockets, registered since Monday, include murder, intimidation, arson, theft and damage to election materials. Five cases have been processed for court.
Among those arrested were two suspects accused of impersonating Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) officials in Ngcobo in the Eastern Cape, while other arrests were reported in Mpumalanga and North West.
The security briefing followed two days of special voting on Monday and Tuesday, during which several incidents required police intervention.
Mosikili expressed particular concern about the killing of a uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party regional leader in KwaZulu-Natal, saying investigations were continuing and that the Political Killings Task Team was providing support.
The killing has heightened concerns about politically motivated violence as voters prepare to elect councillors to govern municipalities for the next five years.
Mosikili warned political parties, candidates and supporters against violence and intimidation during the electoral process.
“Political differences must never translate into violence, intimidation or the loss of lives,” she said.
Police also confirmed the death of an IEC presiding officer in Buhrmansdrift in the Ngaka Modiri Molema District in North West.
The circumstances surrounding the death were being investigated, while contingency arrangements had been activated to allow the special voting process to be completed.
The affected voting station would be operational for Wednesday’s election.
Mosikili also reminded political parties that the official campaigning period ended at midnight on Tuesday, warning against political persuasion, solicitation or intimidation of voters at or around voting stations.
She said anyone contravening Section 76 of the Municipal Electoral Act or other applicable legislation would face consequences.
“No excuses will be entertained when crime is committed,” Mosikili said.
NATJOINTS said security arrangements had been strengthened in areas identified through intelligence assessments as requiring additional intervention.
The structure, which coordinates policing, intelligence and other security operations, said national and provincial operational teams remained fully activated to monitor developments and respond to threats.
Security assessments had also considered the availability of essential services, including electricity and water at voting stations.
Mosikili acknowledged reports of electricity interruptions affecting some municipalities in the days preceding the election but said the relevant government departments had addressed identified problems and prepared contingency measures.
The security cluster said sufficient personnel and resources had been deployed across the country, with operational planning taking account of previous incidents, intelligence assessments and emerging threats.
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