IEC, police ready for secure, crime-free polling

Despite a few incidents, the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) and the South African Police Service (SAPS) said they are ready for the elections today.

A minimum of two police officers would be present at every voting station, while the SAPS would remain at high alert in high risk areas for any disruptions.

The IEC revealed it was currently investigating reports on the double envelope system not being used for some of the special voters on Monday.

Others reportedly didn’t have their ballot papers stamped at the back, which was an important security measure, the commission said.

It also suspended a deputy presiding officer at an Ekurhuleni voting station after a video showing a party agent assisting with the transfer of special votes went viral on Monday.

The issue of three packs of unused and unassembled ballot boxes found on the side of the road in Tzaneen, Limpopo has been resolved by the SAPS and the boxes were returned to the IEC.

The IEC also said a group of “knife-wielding” men confronted election officials conducting home visits in Giyani, Limpopo, recently. That issue had also since been dealt with by the SAPS, who have two suspects in custody while the 93 ballot papers confiscated during the incident were destroyed.

Gauteng commissioner of police Lieutenant-General Elias Mawela also yesterday confirmed the police’s state of readiness in Gauteng.

He said “deployments throughout the election period will be intelligence-driven and responsive to threat assessment per voting station.

“With more than 2,760 voting stations in Gauteng, measures have been put in place by the province in anticipation of possible security breaches that were prevalent in previous elections.

“These include intimidation of voters and electoral officers; obstruction of voting and the voting process; public violence and malicious damage to property; theft and common robberies at or near voting stations,” said Mawela.

“Safety and security form an integral part of the IEC’s mandate to deliver free and fair elections.

“Police thus need the cooperation of peace-loving and law-abiding citizens to work with us during these elections.

“Together we can fight any criminal element that seeks to frustrate the delivery of crime-free elections,” said Mawela.

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