Police arrested three suspects for threatening voters at a Polokwane voting station during the 2024 general elections.
Polokwane police arrest three suspects accused of threatening voters
Letsitele Police in the Mopani District arrested two women and a man, aged between 48 and 55, at the Runnymede voting station at Xibukulwana Secondary School in Polokwane, on Tuesday.
The suspects, according to provincial spokesperson Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba, were apprehended for intimidating and assaulting a female voter by threatening her if she did not vote for a specific political party.
The victim reported the incident to an Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) official, who promptly informed the police.
Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe commented on the arrests, stating:
“These arrests are part of broader efforts to curb electoral violence and ensure public safety during the election period.”
The suspects are scheduled to appear before the Ritavi Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, 30 May 2024.
SA elections 2024: SANDF deployed to high-risk areas
In response to several incidents of unrest and violence leading up to the 2024 SA elections, President Cyril Ramaphosa has extended the deployment of 2,828 members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).
The SANDF personnel have been deployed since Monday, 20 May 2024, and will remain on duty until Friday, 7 June 2024, as part of Operation PROSPER.
The deployment is authorised under Section 201(2)(a) of the Constitution of South Africa and Section 19 of the Defence Act of 2002.
The operation’s expenditure is estimated at R59.4 million.