With terror threats spiking in the country in recent months and the spate of violent incidents following election candidate selection, how safe will people be on those long voting queues?
On 3 August, South Africans will be queuing at different polling stations around the country to cast their votes in the local municipal elections.
Police Minister Nathi Nhleko has outlined security details for the election day which includes identifying high risk areas as well as having reaction units.
Speaking at The New Age Business Briefing on Thursday, Nhleko said that they are working on a six point structure to ensure safety all-round.
Poll killings stir up emotions
"There are broadly six focal areas for our work in securing the elections. The first area of course is the question of static protection of voting stations themselves. The second area is the question of roving reaction teams particularly in medium and high risk areas.
"The third area is the question of escorting of voting material and IEC staff. The fourth area is the question of patrolling your hot spots areas, so it's fine that we have identified them but we must then patrol. The fifth area is the question of investigation of crimes, so we continue to do that, last night we had to arrest two people for instance, relating to so called politically related incidents. The last area is the question of effective co-ordination mechanism. Police must do what they are supposed to do but they must also effectively co-ordinate with other security agencies," explained Nhleko.
ANC must put snubbed councillor on ballot paper
Nhleko also addressed fears around voting stations in Tshwane following the recent protests that erupted in Mamelodi, Atteridgeville, Soshanguve and Mabopane.
"We should recall that we stabilised Tshwane in a matter of 24 hours. It fled up but we were able to contain it and deal with it.
"But also even with the murder that occurred at the Showgrounds, we also have a suspect behind bars, so we arrested that person and that person is attending court. Can we assure you that it's not gonna happen? Of course it's not gonna happen. Firstly we do feel that we have stabilised it as we would all know but secondly, in any event, it is one of the areas that we are paying specific focus on to ensure that you go to the elections freely as a member of that community in Tshwane.," he said.
Police prepare for safe elections
With terror threats spiking in the country in recent months and the spate of violent incidents following election candidate selection, how safe will people be on those long voting queues?
On 3 August, South Africans will be queuing at different polling stations around the country to cast their votes in the local municipal elections.
Police Minister Nathi Nhleko has outlined security details for the election day which includes identifying high risk areas as well as having reaction units.
Speaking at The New Age Business Briefing on Thursday, Nhleko said that they are working on a six point structure to ensure safety all-round.
Poll killings stir up emotions
"There are broadly six focal areas for our work in securing the elections. The first area of course is the question of static protection of voting stations themselves. The second area is the question of roving reaction teams particularly in medium and high risk areas.
"The third area is the question of escorting of voting material and IEC staff. The fourth area is the question of patrolling your hot spots areas, so it's fine that we have identified them but we must then patrol. The fifth area is the question of investigation of crimes, so we continue to do that, last night we had to arrest two people for instance, relating to so called politically related incidents. The last area is the question of effective co-ordination mechanism. Police must do what they are supposed to do but they must also effectively co-ordinate with other security agencies," explained Nhleko.
ANC must put snubbed councillor on ballot paper
Nhleko also addressed fears around voting stations in Tshwane following the recent protests that erupted in Mamelodi, Atteridgeville, Soshanguve and Mabopane.
"We should recall that we stabilised Tshwane in a matter of 24 hours. It fled up but we were able to contain it and deal with it.
"But also even with the murder that occurred at the Showgrounds, we also have a suspect behind bars, so we arrested that person and that person is attending court. Can we assure you that it's not gonna happen? Of course it's not gonna happen. Firstly we do feel that we have stabilised it as we would all know but secondly, in any event, it is one of the areas that we are paying specific focus on to ensure that you go to the elections freely as a member of that community in Tshwane.," he said.
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