The South African Police Service (SAPS) says it is committed to ensuring peaceful local government elections next week on 3 August.
More than 50 000 police officers will be deployed at 22 612 voting stations countrywide as South Africans take to the polls in the 2016 Local Government Elections.
Police Minister Nathi Nhleko emphasised that there will be zero “no-go areas”.
“We have to secure the environment to such an extent that communities are able to exercise their constitutional right to vote,” he said.
As of June, the police had 1000 voting districts which were classified as high risk areas. This number has since been reduced to 650.
The Minister said the overall success of the election requires all stakeholders in the country to play an active role in ensuring elections are peaceful, free and fair.
Acting National Police Commissioner Kgomotso Phahlane said the success of the police is highly dependent on the collaboration between communities and visible policing.
Violence in Vuwani
Regarding the violence in Vuwani, in Limpopo, he assured the residents they will have a platform to vote which will be secured by the police.
He said one of the measures for the Limpopo area included that a number of the new cadets will be deployed in Vuwani.
Violent protests in Tshwane
Regarding the violent protests that broke out in Tshwane, which saw shops being looted and roads being barricaded, the Minister said: “We can assure that it’s not going to happen again. We are paying specific focus to ensure that people go to the elections freely.”
