Provincial police commissioner Lieutenant-General Thembisile Patekile outlined the police’s plans for the upcoming general elections at a parade by members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) in Belhar today.

He said Western Cape police had been given the thumbs up by the national executive team that was travelling across all provinces checking the state of readiness for the election on Wednesday May 29.

General Patekile said the Western Cape has 1572 voting stations with 49 deemed to be high risk and 475 medium risk.

A maximum of six police officers will be deployed at high-risk polling stations, four at medium-risk stations, and two at low-risk polling stations.

These officers will be on alert for political intolerance, protests, crime and other issues.

Within the vicinity of these polling stations there will be teams that will respond to any incidents reported.

“As law enforcement officers we have recognised the hard-earned democracy, and our job is to ensure that each and every citizen of this country exercises his/her right without threat. That's why we will be out there in full force to make sure that everybody is protected,” said Lieutenant-General Patekile.

He said all officers deployed to oversee the elections are trained in terms of the Electoral Act.

He urged the community and political party leaders to respect the law and work with police as they will be making sure everybody is safe.

There is a team of detectives which will be responsible for all election crime related incidents.

“The important thing is to ensure that we act swiftly and attend to them immediately,” said Lieutenant-General Patekile.

He said all 151 police stations will be operating normally, working 24 hours to provide services to the citizens during the day of elections.

MEC of Police Oversight and Community Safety, Reagen Allen, was also present at the parade.

“We are here to declare that we are ready, we are ready to ensure that the 2024 elections will be free, will be fair and if there is any act of intimidation and violence, the plan will make sure that law enforcement together with the South African Police Service and SANDF (South African National Defence Force) will be able to act,” said Mr Allen.

Members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) during the parade in Belhar where provincial police commissioner Lieutenant-General Thembisile Patekile outlined the police’s readiness for the upcoming general elections. Picture: BHEKI RADEBE

Members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) on parade ahead of the general national and provincial elections on Wednesday May 29. PICTURE: BHEKI RADEBE

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