23 February 2006
More than 60 000 South African Police Services (SAPS) members have been
deployed to secure and protect the Municipal Local Elections to be held on 1
March 2006.
At a media briefing held in Durban, Minister for Safety and Security Charles
Nqakula said no stone will be left unturned to secure all 18 791 poling
stations countrywide.
In addition, the SAPS will rely on back-up from the South African National
Defence Force (SANDF) if required. This entails infantry and paratroopers as
well as fixed wing aircrafts and helicopters on standby in all nine
provinces.
Minister Nqakula said the SAPS in conjunction with other government role
players such as Department of Home Affairs, SANDF, the Intelligence Community,
the Department of Provincial and Local Government as well as the Independent
Electoral Commission (IEC) have been meeting and planning for these elections
for more than a year now.
There is consensus that no potential disruptions to elections are
anticipated. Even in Khutsong we are confident that adequate SAPS members have
been deployed to ensure conditions for safety and security, including IEC staff
and their resources, he said.
Nqakula said South Africans can look forward to utilising their ballot to
choose their municipal representatives, happy in the knowledge that the
security forces will deliver conditions of peace and stability.
For more information please call: Hangwani Mulaudzi
Cell: 082 555 3505
Trevor Bloem
Cell: 082 778 3561
Issued by: South African Police Service
23 February 2006
