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Security cluster: Hotspot voting stations have been identified

Security cluster Ministers said each voting station in South Africa has been categorised as high, medium or low risk. Law enforcement resources on Election Day will be distributed accordingly.

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The Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster (JCPS) said South Africa’s law enforcement agencies are ready to ensure a safe and secure environment on the upcoming election days.

SECURITY CLUSTER READY FOR ELECTIONS

Minister of Defence Thandi Modise said the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (Natjoints) continues to meet on a weekly basis to plan and analyse the security situation across the country.

“Today we can confidently declare that all safety and security measures have been put in place to create a conducive environment for free and fair elections starting from 30 and 31 October 2021 (from 08:00 to 17:00 for the special votes) and 1 November elections,” said Modise at a media briefing on Monday, 25 October.

SECURITY PLAN IN PLACE

Natjoints has put together a security plan that will ensure that there is sufficient police visibility in and around voting stations on election day. The law enforcement presence is to discourage and prevent crime and voter intimidation.

“Furthermore, members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) will be deployed at the provincial results centres to ensure the integrity of the finalisation of the results,” said Modise.

The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and other law enforcement agencies will also be deployed across the country, alongside the police, based on a threat analysis and crime patterns,

HOTSPOTS IDENTIFIED

Modise said that the Intelligence Coordinating Committee’s (ICC) security threat assessment found that the situation in the country is relatively stable, “which is conducive to free and fair elections.”

The ICC threat assessment has resulted in each voting station being categorised as either high, medium or low risk and law enforcement resources will be distributed accordingly.

“All forms of criminality will not be tolerated before, during and after the voting period. We would like to remind South Africans that the incitement of violence is also a criminal offence. Interfering with the work of IEC officers is also a transgression that is punishable by law.

“As the Security Cluster, we again want to assure the country that law-enforcement agencies will be on hand at every voting station to ensure that the democratic process is not disturbed in any way whatsoever and the elections are conducted in a free, fair and safe environment,” said Modise.

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