- NATJOINTS has recorded 21 election-related cases, including murder, theft, arson, intimidation and destruction of electoral materials.
- The killing of Lastborn Shazi, the MK Party’s Ugu regional organiser, has prompted heightened security measures and investigative support from the Political Killing Task Team.
- Security structures say additional personnel, intelligence-driven deployments and contingency measures are in place to protect voters.
Political parties, their leaders and supporters have been urged to exercise restraint and reject intimidation as South Africa prepares for voting day amid reports of election-related violence and criminal activity.
Lieutenant-General Tebello Mosikili, Chairperson of the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS), said political differences must never translate into violence, intimidation or loss of life. Her warning follows several incidents recorded during the two days of special voting, including the murder of Lastborn Shazi, the MK Party’s Ugu regional organiser in KwaZulu-Natal.
Mosikili said investigators would pursue available leads to ensure that those responsible for Shazi’s killing were brought to justice. The Political Killing Task Team was also involved in the matter and would provide the necessary investigative support.
She called on political parties, their leadership, members and supporters to exercise political tolerance and restraint, while warning that law enforcement agencies must act decisively whenever criminal conduct occurs. Mosikili stressed that there would be no excuses or negotiations where crimes were committed.
Election-related cases recorded
NATJOINTS has recorded 21 cases since Monday, including murder, theft of banners and tents, removal of political posters, arson, intimidation and the defacing or destruction of electoral materials. Five of the cases had been processed to court, while arrests had been made in six dockets.
The arrests included two people accused of impersonating an IEC official at Hlobo in the Eastern Cape. Another suspect was arrested for allegedly destroying electoral materials at Mmamitlake in Mpumalanga, while a separate suspect was arrested for malicious damage to property in Pienaar, also in Mpumalanga.
A further suspect was arrested for allegedly taking a photograph of a ballot paper. Mosikili said these incidents had caused concern as the country approached election day, but assured South Africans that all cases brought to the attention of operational structures were receiving the necessary attention.
Security measures intensified
The security cluster has intensified deployments across the country, guided by intelligence assessments and operational requirements in identified policing precincts. Mosikili said security planning had considered the prevailing environment, historical incidents, intelligence information and potential threats that could affect the electoral process.
She said contingency measures were in place to ensure that emerging situations were addressed promptly without compromising the safety of voters or the integrity of the electoral process. Security agencies would not allow criminal elements to exploit the electoral period to destabilise communities or intimidate voters.
NATJOINTS had also undertaken national security and operational readiness assessments across government departments to establish whether the necessary resources and services were available at voting stations. These included essential services such as electricity and water, as well as the infrastructure and support required by IEC officials and security personnel.
Mosikili acknowledged reports of electricity interruptions affecting some municipalities during the preceding two days, saying the relevant government departments and coordinating structures had attended to the identified challenges. Contingency measures were in place to address further disruptions, although she cautioned that this did not mean interruptions would not occur.
IEC presiding officer’s death under investigation
Mosikili also confirmed that police were investigating the death of an IEC presiding officer at Wilmansrust in the Ngaka Modiri Molema District in the North West. Investigators would establish the circumstances surrounding her death and the cause.
The affected voting station had remained closed to allow investigators to process the scene. Contingency arrangements were activated to accommodate the special voting process, with the station scheduled to become fully operational for voters on Wednesday, 4 November 2026.
Voters urged to exercise their rights peacefully
Mosikili appealed to South Africans to exercise their democratic right to vote, respect the rights of others, refrain from spreading misinformation, avoid intimidation and comply with the law. She said peaceful elections required cooperation from political parties, communities, traditional leaders, civil society and every eligible voter.
NATJOINTS, together with the nine provinces, participating government departments and law enforcement agencies, remained committed to securing the elections. Mosikili said the security cluster was operating at its highest level of readiness, with the necessary personnel, resources, coordination mechanisms and contingency arrangements in place to ensure that voters could exercise their democratic rights in a safe and peaceful environment.
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