"The security forces, ensuring your constitutional right to vote".
At the final interdepartmental preparatory meeting of the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS) earlier today, all participating government departments indicated that all plans are in place and it’s all systems go for the local government elections 2011.
As is usual practice in terms of securing major events, the South African Police Service (SAPS) is the lead department of the NATJOINTS and chairs the National Joint Operational Committee meetings which take place daily and during which all departments give briefings and updates on the security and intelligence picture countrywide. Today the meeting took place at the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) National Results Centre amid a hub of activity and excitement, especially with the presence of President Jacob Zuma in the centre.
Tomorrow 75 000 South African Police Service members will be deployed on election-specific duties, 50 000 performing static protection at polling stations and 25 000 performing general crime prevention duties. Members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and the Metro Police have also been deployed in all provinces in support of the SAPS.
Other departments represented at the National Joint Operational Centre (NATJOC) include the South African National Defence Force, the Independent Electoral Commission, Government Communication and Information Systems, the Departments of Home Affairs, Health, Justice and Constitutional Development, International Relations and Cooperation, Cooperative Governance, the State Security Agency, various Intelligence agencies and the South African Revenue Services.
The total deployment today, on the eve of the elections, among all these various departments amounted to 95 048 personnel on duty countrywide.
The Weather Bureau representative advised that light rain is predicted in certain parts of the country tomorrow, but no extreme weather conditions are expected.
It was reported that no major incidents which could impact negatively on the elections took place over the past 24 hours and all indications are prevalent that the situation remains conducive to free and fair elections.
Tomorrow the South African Police Service, together with the Independent Electoral Commission, will safeguard the inner perimeters of the 20 864 polling stations, the SAPS, together with the SANDF in certain areas, will secure the outer perimeters of polling stations, escort election material and perform general crime prevention duties. A reaction capability comprising of the SAPS, SANDF and South African Air Force will be on standby to rapidly react to any contingency. However, it must again be emphasised that there is no major threat against the holding of a free and fair election.
After all registered voters have cast their votes, the security forces will be responsible for policing the result centres, safeguarding the counting process, maintaining law and order and performing general crime prevention duties.
Normal policing duties will at all times continue in all communities.
The NATJOINTS urges all registered voters to exercise their constitutional and democratic right to vote and will ensure that they will be able to do so in an environment conducive to a free and fair election.
Enquiries:
Brigadier Sally de Beer
Cell: 082 779 8658
Colonel Vishnu Naidoo
Tel: 012 400 6579 / 6629 / 6576
Fax: 012 400 7018
Cell: 082 567 4153
E-mail: mediacentre@saps.org.za
Source: South African Police Service
The National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure gives the thumbs up for local government elections
