South Africa: SAPS Ready to Ensure Safe Elections

The South African Police Service (SAPS) states it is operationally prepared to make sure the 2026 Local Government Elections is safe and tranquil, with increased implementations prepared, specialised systems on standby and extra security procedures in location.
With precisely 3 days to precede the elections, with the start of the Special Voting Process on Monday, National Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Fannie Masemola stated authorities had actually been getting ready for a number of months to guarantee that the required security plans remained in location.
“The South African Police Service wishes to assure South Africans that we are operationally ready to secure these elections. We have been planning for these elections for several months,” Masemola stated on Friday.

He was speaking in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, at the conclusion of the SAPS’s across the country provincial preparedness evaluations. KwaZulu-Natal was the last province to be examined.

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Preparations consisted of functional preparation, resource mobilisation, threat evaluations and simulation workouts to check the cops service’s capability to react to various situations before, throughout and after election day.
“Having completed this process, we are confident in our state of preparedness. We are satisfied that the necessary measures have been put in place and that the SAPS is ready to discharge its responsibility of ensuring safe, secure and peaceful elections,” he stated.
As part of its security evaluations, the SAPS has actually recognized 331 high-risk ballot stations nationally, with KwaZulu-Natal accounting for the greatest number at 165.

Of these, 124 remain in the eThekwini District, 16 in uThukela, 13 in Amajuba, 11 in Zululand and one in the Ugu District.
Gauteng has actually 119 recognized high-risk ballot stations, consisting of 75 in Johannesburg, 23 in Ekurhuleni, 14 in the City of Tshwane, 6 in the West Rand and one in Sedibeng.
The Western Cape has 33 high-risk ballot stations, all within the City of Cape Town, while Mpumalanga has 11, making up 6 in Gert Sibande, 3 in Ehlanzeni and 2 in Nkangala.
The Eastern Cape has 3 high-risk ballot stations, all in the OR Tambo District.
The North West, Limpopo, Northern Cape and Free State have no ballot stations categorized as high-risk, although these provinces have medium- and low-risk ballot stations.

Masemola stated the determined threats had actually notified functional preparation and resource release, with improved authorities presence and targeted interventions in locations where they were required.
“We have left no stone unturned in preparing for these elections. Our focus has been on ensuring that we have adequate personnel, appropriate resources, effective coordination and operational capacity to respond swiftly to any eventuality,” he stated.
Political violence will not be endured

The National Commissioner revealed issue about killings and attacks targeting political celebration advocates, members and ward prospects, cautioning that political intolerance and intimidation would not be endured.
“We are, however, concerned about the killings and attacks targeting political party supporters, party members and ward candidates. These acts of violence have no place in our democracy. No person should lose their life or be attacked simply because of their political affiliation or their decision to participate in the electoral process,” Masemola stated.
He prompted political celebrations to work out tolerance and solve their distinctions through legal and serene methods, including that authorities would act decisively versus anybody associated with criminal activities.
Court application to make sure demonstrations are safe

Masemola likewise dealt with the SAPS’s current court application worrying marches and public presentations in KwaZulu-Natal, clarifying that it was not meant to forbid legal presentations.

He stated the application looked for an interim order needing organisers and individuals to adhere to the law when exercising their constitutional right to show.
The application follows intensifying occurrences of violence, intimidation and residential or commercial property damage related to marches around Durban.
According to Masemola, 2 individuals have actually been assaulted and eliminated, and 16 cars have actually been charred or harmed in connection with these occurrences.
“We wish to stress that the SAPS appreciates the constitutional right of everyone to put together, show and present petitions quietly and unarmed.
“However, this right must be exercised within the confines of the law and cannot be used to justify violence, intimidation, destruction of property or the infringement of the rights of others. Our application is therefore not intended to prohibit lawful marches, but to ensure compliance with the law, protect lives and property, and enable the police to maintain public order,” he stated.
Offering tactical and functional assistance to provinces

Masemola stated the SAPS would lead the election security operation, supported by the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), Metro Police Departments and the State Security Agency (SSA).
The security cluster is interacting to enhance intelligence-sharing, functional coordination and resource release, and to guarantee a quick action to occurrences that might threaten election security and security.
Senior officers from SAPS Head Office have actually likewise been released to supply tactical and functional assistance to provinces. Roaming functional groups have actually been developed to enhance releases and react to emerging security hazards.
Specialised systems, consisting of the Special Task Force, National Intervention Unit, Tactical Response Teams, Explosives Units and Hostage Negotiators, have actually been put on standby.