District Commissioner says SAPS are all set for national elections
Alexander said he had convened several political intervention meetings with all the political parties to instil the message that they needed to work together with political leadership to root out any unruly behaviour.
The 2024 general elections are less than a week away and local law enforcement is confident of a smooth and violent-free process but have confirmed that they are ready for any eventualities.
The Newcastle Advertiser interviewed various law enforcement agencies on what contingency plans are in place to ensure that the voting process runs smoothly and how potential threats will be eliminated.
ALSO READ: Local law enforcement agencies all out on full alert ahead of crucial 2024 general elections
It was also a chance to debunk any false information that may have created unnecessary panic in the Amajuba District
Major General Frederick Alexander, Amajuba SAPS District Commissioner, stressed that the police ‘are more than ready’ for this year’s election.
“We are one of the districts fortunate enough to have had by-elections in Osizweni and Madadeni, so we are carrying the experience from policing those voting stations over into the upcoming elections,” he said.
He stated that there are 212 voting stations across the Amajuba District and SAPS is deploying members at every station to ensure the voting process is free and fair.
“From our side, we’ll be deploying 678 members on the day. We’ll also be receiving additional support from Public Order Police (POP) and Tactical Response Team (TRT) members; so our numbers will be sufficient to man these stations,” he said.
Is there any reason for concern?
Alexander said he had convened several political intervention meetings with all the political parties to instil the message that they needed to work together with political leadership to root out any unruly behaviour – especially after sunset
“We have also had meetings with the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) in an ongoing effort to refine our operational strategies.
One would also see that there have been various political campaigns taking place in the lead-up to the election. SAPS is focused on making sure ‘political heads’ remain safe at all times and avoid so-called ‘no-go’ zones. However, there no incidents have been reported,” he said.
Alexander confirmed that all law enforcement agencies, including the Community Policing Forum (CPF), Community Crime Prevention Association (CCPA), youth wings, and private security firms will strategically work together on election day to ensure everything goes off without any issues.
A meeting was held last Sunday between law enforcement agencies, including station commanders, to discuss the elections as well as other serious crimes taking place within the district.
All these entities will be strategically placed and will form part of a revolving team that will be doing crime prevention duties, focusing on key areas such as Newcastle, Madadeni, and Osizweni from where the majority of crime is generated.
Threatening messages circulated on social media:
A message was circulated across social media platforms this past weekend stating the following: “Another concern is that police station armouries in KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, and the Western Cape could be targeted by protesters who want to steal guns.
The SAPS’s crime intelligence report aligns with warnings from the business and finance communities. BMI’s associate director of operational risk, Derrick Botha, said South Africa’s upcoming elections pose the greatest risk for political violence since the advent of democracy.”
However, Major General Alexander isn’t concerned about these posts as this is not the first time he has heard of these threats.
“We had threats like this during the 2021 July unrest. We learned a lot from that experience and will carry that with us into these elections if need be. We have also removed weapons from outside stations in the district. Our status quo from the unrest remains to this day; so we are well prepared for any potential unrest this year.
“We also have an adequate amount of manpower which will be deployed at voting stations. Those who remain behind will conduct their regular policing duties,” he confirmed.
The spreading of false information:
“People must know that all ‘threats’ and circulated messages are thoroughly investigated and followed up on by crime intelligence agencies. Cases are then opened against individuals spreading false information and they will face serious consequences,” said Major General Alexander.
A message to the community:
“You must all feel free to exercise your right to vote this year, and we will ensure that you can do so in a free and safe space. We also ask everyone to be vigilant at all times and to immediately report any suspicious or unruly behaviour to your local or district SAPS,” he concluded.
The news provided to you in this link has been investigated and compiled by the editorial staff of the Newcastle Advertiser, a sold newspaper distributed in the Newcastle area. Please follow us on Youtube and feel free to like, comment, and subscribe. For more local news, visit our webpage, follow us on Facebook and Twitter, and request an add on our WhatsApp (082 874 5550).
