14 April 2009
Five national Ministers of the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS)
Cluster visited the Eastern Cape province on 31 March to 1 April 2009 to assess
the state of readiness for the upcoming general elections.
The ministers who were hosted by MEC Thobile Mhlahlo included Nathi
Mthethwa, the Minister of Safety and Security and Chairperson of the Cluster,
Enver Surty, Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Siyabonga
Cwele, of National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Fezile Bhengu the Deputy Minister
of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and Loretta Jacobus, the
Deputy Minister for Correctional Services. The ministers visited the Nelson
Mandela Bay and Butterworth.
In a community meeting in Butterworth, the communityâs fears, particularly
those around the recent killings in the Toleni area, were allayed when the
National Deputy Commissioner of Police, Andre Pruis, outlined plans that are
designed to arrest the perpetrators as well as make sure that the community is
safe as we are approaching the elections. Taxi operators in these areas,
particularly in Butterworth, raised concerns about the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)
system but pledged support for the elections.
Subsequently to the visit by the ministers, a provincial JCPS cluster
meeting was held on 2 April 2009 at the Office of the Premier (OTP), Telemedia
centre to internally look at the state of readiness for the general elections
in the province. The EC JCPS cluster was launched last year and operates in the
same manner as the national cluster operates.
Meanwhile, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), said there are 4 482
voting stations in the province, 40 000 voting station staff and four mobile
voting stations for Camdeboo, Great Kei, Sakhisizwe and Matatiele.
Correctional centres will be designated as satellite voting stations for the
community of offenders in this province.
Water, generators and lamps will be provided for all voting stations without
regular water supply and electricity and ablution facilities will be provided
where there are none. Roads will be upgraded at local level to make easy access
for IEC officials, the police as well as voters.
Speaking on the issue of security during the elections, the provincial
commissioner of police Mpumelelo Landu, unveiled deployment strategies at the
voting stations. These included the total number of personnel to be deployed in
each voting station, safety of the ballot boxes and papers before and after
voting.
Members of the Defence Force will be on stand by to assist the police on any
matter that is beyond the capacity of the police.
Cases of intimidation and political intolerance will be dealt with
decisively and speedily by the police and the entire criminal justice system as
all the eyes of the world will be on this country to gauge the level of
maturity of our democracy.
The Eastern Cape JCPS cluster found no major threats that can derail the
democratic voting process for free and fair elections in this province.
Media is allowed on application to be observers in the counting
stations.
For further information contact:
Mzoli Sikukula
Tel: 040 609 2079
Cell: 082 851 9506
Issued by: Department of Safety and Liaison, Eastern Cape Provincial
Government
14 April 2009
Source: Department of Safety and Liaison, Eastern Cape Provincial Government
(http://www.safety.ecprov.gov.za)
