JCPS Cluster Ministers Brief on Readiness for 2021 Municipal Elections

Strategic Insights -

The JCPS Cluster Ministers hosted a briefing to update the nation on the cluster's state of readiness for the upcoming Local Government Elections (LGE), which will take place on November 1, 2021. With COVID-19 health protocols in place, the cluster has implemented various measures to ensure a safe and secure environment for all citizens to exercise their constitutional right to vote. The briefing outlined the cluster's safety and security measures, including the deployment of police officers at voting stations, the protection of national key points, and the establishment of an Electoral Court to deal with electoral disputes.

Key Takeaways:

  • The JCPS Cluster has put in place an election security plan, managed by national, provincial, district, and local Joint Operational and Intelligence Structures, to ensure sufficient police visibility at voting stations and prevent crime and intimidation of voters.
  • The plan includes the deployment of the South African Police Service (SAPS), South African National Defence Force (SANDF), and other law-enforcement agencies, guided by structured threat analysis and crime patterns.
  • The Intelligence Coordinating Committee (ICC) has conducted a security threat assessment, categorizing voting stations into high, medium, and low risk, and the police will deploy accordingly.
  • The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) has extended its operating hours by 2 ½ hours in 197 offices to meet demand for services, and will assist people who have lost or misplaced their IDs to apply for a Temporary Identity Certificate during the voting period.
  • The SANDF will be on standby to provide support to the IEC and SAPS, and will protect National Key Points.
  • The Electoral Court will be established in each voting district to deal with electoral disputes, complaints about infringements of the Electoral Code of Conduct, and investigate any allegation of misconduct, incapacity, or incompetence of IEC members.
  • The total number of uncollected IDs at Home Affairs offices as of October 22, 2021, is 370,000.
  • The DHA will operate on the same hours as the IEC on Election Day, and will assist people who have lost or misplaced their IDs to apply for a Temporary Identity Certificate.

Statistics:

  • 370,000 uncollected IDs at Home Affairs offices as of October 22, 2021.
  • 197 out of 412 Home Affairs offices extended operating hours by 2 ½ hours to meet demand for services.
  • 412 Home Affairs offices will operate on the same hours as the IEC on Election Day.
  • 2 ½ hours extension in operating hours at Home Affairs offices.
  • 3,000 people arrested in connection with political-related crimes since the inception of the Task Team.
  • 15 life sentences and 10-15 years sentences handed down to perpetrators of political-related crimes.
  • 2,000 SAPS officers deployed at voting stations.
  • 1,000 SANDF members on standby to provide support to the IEC and SAPS.

Sources:

  • Government of South Africa. (2021). Briefing by the JCPS Cluster Ministers on the state of readiness for the 2021 Municipal Elections.
  • AllAfrica Global Media (allafrica.com). (2021). JCPS Cluster Ministers Brief on Readiness for 2021 Municipal Elections.