NELSPRUIT – Today, the Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS) in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela is happy on the security status of the Local Government Elections proceedings in the province, which was seamless and had minimal disturbances. Thanks to the Provincial Joint Committee (ProvJoc) which consists of the security stakeholders in the province, for coordinating the preparation of the process from the beginning to the end, of which the Provincial Commissioner is the Chairperson.
On Saturday, 30th November, during the first day of the special votes, the Provincial Commissioner announced her solid plan to ensure that all the voters in Mpumalanga are safe and free to exercise their democratic right to vote for the political parties of their choice.
There were only few recorded incidences which were of less significant and were as follows:
Nkangala Region- two (2) African males suspected to have been under the influence of alcohol were arrested at Delmas for interference with the IEC officials. In the very same area, a group of about seven (7) males who were dressed in the regalia of their political party, were under the influence of alcohol and tried to prevent the community from voting. The police urgently and calmly extinguished the situation.
Ehlanzeni Region- At Masoyi at around 07:00 in the morning the community of Masoyi blocked the roads by burning tyres as part of their municipal service protest for water. However the police reacted swiftly and defused the situation.
Gert-Sibande-In the morning at around 07:00 about 30 community members were protesting at Piet Retief by burning tyres in complain of the ward demarcation. As the protest took place in the morning, it delayed the opening of the voting station because the burning tyres had to be extinguished and the rubble cleared off the road. In Ermelo it was reported that there was an altercation between voters who were allegedly not registered to vote on a particular voting station.
Yesterday the Provincial Commissioner with the management conducted visits to all the three regions, especially on the hotspots where they ensured that all is well and also to provide necessary support where it was needed. They found that everything was according to the plan.
The Provincial Commissioner commended the members of the South African Police Service in the Province for the professional behaviour they displayed as they worked tirelessly within the ambits of the law in ensuring that the voting process and the proceedings were free of any disturbances by anyone. She further thanked the community of Mpumalanga for the manner in which they conducted themselves throughout the entire voting period. “I must applaud the citizens of Mpumalanga as their conduct was very professional. This shows that they respect the laws of this country and understands the importance of voting in a democratic country” she said.
She however condemned the barbaric act which happened in the late hours of yesterday evening at 23:50 where two Police members and two IEC Officials (Presiding Officer and Deputy Presiding Officer) who were transporting ballot boxes, found a large group of community members gathered in front of the gate which was closed at Cunningmore in Calcutta. Their vehicles were blocked and in the process the community members removed one (1) full ballot box and one (1) empty box from the IEC vehicle. A case has subsequently been opened in this regard. The investigation is ongoing. A team consisted of three (3) Major Generals and a Brigadier was immediately sent to ensure that the matter receives the necessary attention.
Source: South African Police Service