The National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS) has assured South Africans that security forces are ready to safeguard the 2026 Local Government Elections, with law enforcement agencies deployed nationwide to prevent violence and disruptions.
NATJOINTS Chairperson Lieutenant General Tebello Mosikili confirmed during a media briefing in Tshwane on Sunday that national and provincial joint operational structures were fully activated.
She said security assessments had been conducted at voting stations, with deployments guided by intelligence assessments and identified threats. The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) is also ready to support police operations in identified hotspot areas if necessary.
However, authorities have raised concerns over election-related violence, revealing that 139 criminal dockets have been registered since the start of the election processes.
A total of 48 suspects have been arrested, while 69 cases remain under investigation.
Mosikili also revealed that 20 murders involving political representatives, party members and supporters had been recorded, with seven arrests made.
Gauteng recorded seven murders, followed by KwaZulu-Natal with six, the Western Cape with three and the Eastern Cape with two. The Free State and North West each recorded one.
Electoral Act offences account for 72 of the 139 reported cases.
NATJOINTS said it was also monitoring potential threats linked to service delivery protests, anti-foreigner sentiments, community tensions and taxi-related violence.
Political parties and candidates have been reminded that campaigning must end at midnight on Tuesday, with no campaigning or political persuasion permitted on Voting Day.
The Security Cluster said ordinary policing operations would continue, while NATJOINTS would provide daily security updates throughout the electoral period.
No tags for this post.
