Election arrests reach 59 as police act against one of their own
MIDRAND — Police reported 59 arrests across South Africa’s three voting days, while also taking action against a KwaZulu-Natal officer who arrived at a voting station in a vehicle displaying political party branding. The update places alleged misconduct by officials alongside cases involving voters and other suspects as election security operations continue.
Briefing the media on Thursday evening, NATJOINTS co-chairperson Lieutenant General Tebello Mosikili said police registered 57 case dockets and arrested 27 suspects on Wednesday’s main voting day. A further 65 dockets and 32 arrests were recorded during special voting on Monday and Tuesday
Wednesday’s cases included 32 alleged contraventions of electoral legislation, alongside assault, intimidation, property damage and other offences. KwaZulu-Natal recorded the highest number of voting-day cases, with 15, followed by Limpopo with 11 and the Eastern Cape with 10. Gauteng recorded seven arrests, the highest provincial total for that day.
The allegations extend to the handling of marked ballots. In a separate statement, Limpopo police said a 32-year-old man was arrested after allegedly photographing his ballot at Masakhane voting station in Ga-Willy village during special voting and posting the image on WhatsApp. Police said the presiding officer reported the incident. The allegation remains subject to criminal proceedings.
National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola had earlier stressed that officers must remain politically impartial while on duty. Although police personnel may vote for their preferred party in their personal capacity, he said wearing political regalia while working could undermine public confidence in their neutrality.
Mosikili did not specify what action had been taken against the KwaZulu-Natal officer. The reported arrests are not convictions, and she said security personnel would remain deployed until the electoral process was concluded.
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