The South African Police Service and partners in the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS) are fully prepared to secure the General Election 2014. Months of planning and implementing the pre-election phase of that planning has seen the SAPS launching operations to continuously stabilize certain areas within the country.
As from Friday 2 May 2014, the NATJOINTS will be implementing the election phase of the plan with officials from multiple government departments and agencies working 24 hour shifts at the National Joint Operational Centre (NATJOC) in Pretoria.
The NATJOINTS will give continuous support to the Independent Electoral Commission from now until all votes have been counted and the results have been announced.
All security operations relating to the General Election 2014 will be commanded from the NATJOC. The South African Police Service is the lead department in terms of securing a peaceful, free and fair election. Duties include the deployment of police officials to each and every voting station or centre. These officers will work closely with IEC representatives to ensure that all citizens can exercise their right to vote in the country’s 5th democratic general election in safety, free from intimidation, disorderly conduct or violence.
It must be stressed that normal day-to-day policing and crime prevention duties will continue. Where necessary, reservists will be called up as force multipliers.
The coordinating body of the security operations is the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS), which was mandated by Cabinet to, inter alia, secure major events such as general elections. The South African Police Service is the lead department of the NATJOINTS, but the support and assistance of all partners and role players will ensure that security is optimal at all venues and that law enforcement is visible without being intrusive.
Over the past few weeks, the Ministers of the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) Cluster have been visiting various “hot spot” areas throughout the country. During these visits they have been briefed on security arrangements, met with community leaders and done walkabouts through various areas.
Provincial Joint Operational Centres (PROVJOCs) will be fully functional in all nine Provinces and will function in a similar manner to that of the NATJOC and all security activities will be finely coordinated.
We have been holding regular planning meetings and are using the blueprint of previous elections and major events to secure the elections. We are confident that our communities can go out in numbers to cast their votes and that they can do so in a safe and peaceful environment, conducive to free and fair elections.
A stern warning is issued to those who have intentions of attempting to destabilize the election process in any way that they will most certainly face arrest and prosecution To date over 50 individuals have been arrested by the SAPS for election-related offences.
Media enquiries:
Lieutenant General Solomon Makgale
Mobile: 082 781 8863.
