Pretoria - The National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS), which is coordinating all security and law enforcement operations throughout the country during the elections, says it is satisfied that all deployments are in place.
South Africans have until 9pm to cast their ballots in the country’s fifth democratic elections.
Police spokesperson Lieutenant General Solomon Makgale said the elections are proceeding smoothly.
“The NATJOINTS is appreciative of the festive and peaceful spirit in which the citizens of South Africa have taken to the polls, despite long queues in some areas,” he said.
Police officers have been deployed to voting stations across the country to ensure peace.
Law enforcement agencies which form NATJOINTS are applying a zero-tolerance approach to those seeking to derail the elections.
NATJOINTS is made up of the Defence Force, National Prosecuting Authority, Intelligence Coordinating Committee, Metro Police and Independent Electoral Commission among others.
The National Police Commissioner General Riah Phiyega, who was spotted at the IEC’s Results Operating Centre in Pretoria earlier today, is personally monitoring the security force’s operation today.
Lieutenant General Makgale said to date, 97 individuals have been arrested by law enforcement officials for election-related offences.
This is from the 131 registered cases. – SAnews.gov.za
