Police in KwaZulu-Natal have raised the stakes by deploying spooks and informers in an effort to fizzle any outbreak of political violence in the province.
The plan was revealed by provincial police commissioner Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi in Durban on Tuesday.
“Although we believe that we will have peaceful elections, we can’t take chances. That’s why we have deployed informers and intelligence to detect any potential threat,” said Mkhwanazi.
Police intelligence intensified
He also explained that police intelligence has identified at more than 200 voting stations that are classified as high-risk areas. The classification of these voting stations, according to Mkhwanazi, was based on the presence of sporadic protests and a historically volatile political climate. More political resources will also be dispatched to far-flung districts such as Zululand, UThukela and uMkhanyakude.
“In terms of the deployment of resources and personnel, there will be more police deployed in the voting stations that we have identified as high-risk to medium. Areas with low risk will have less police,” he said.
About 17,000 police officers have been deployed in KZN alone. The province has the second-highest registered voters at just over 5 million after Gauteng. The police will also use drone technology to intercept any threats at voting stations.
Stakes are high in KwaZulu-Natal ahead of the Wednesday’s elections. It is expected to be the battleground for political parties vying to put an end to the ANC’s dominance in the province.
Mkhwanazi also warned against unruly supporters of political parties. This after people wearing uMkhonto weSizwe party (MK Party) regalia stormed an IEC warehouse in Hammarsdale, south-west of Durban. They cited irregularities in the delivery of voting material to various polling stations. They subsequently kept IEC staff hostage.
Political party supporters cautioned
“We encourage members of various political parties not to engage in such acts. They must notify the police if there are any issues at voting stations and not take the law into their own hands. Because there will be consequences,” Mkhwanazi warned.
The MK party, IFP, DA and EFF are all parties predicted to do well. There is also talk that there will be no outright winner in KZN, forcing parties into a negotiation table.
