South African police made a series of election arrests in Limpopo as special voting closed ahead of Wednesday’s local government elections. Police spokesperson Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba said a man was arrested in Mankweng, near Polokwane, for allegedly removing election posters unlawfully, an incident reportedly captured on video. He was charged under Section 92 of the Electoral Act, has appeared in court, and the matter was remanded to November 30.
In a second case in the Sekhukhune district, a man was arrested on assault and intimidation charges after a complainant’s political party T-shirt was allegedly taken by force and set alight during an incident involving people allegedly affiliated with a political party. Police investigations in that case are continuing. Provincial commissioner Lieutenant General Jan Petrus Scheepers said police would not tolerate intimidation, violence or the destruction of election material.
Ballot secrecy produced a third arrest. A 32 year old man was arrested on Tuesday after allegedly photographing his marked ballot at the Chuchekani Primary School voting station in Lulekani on Monday and posting the image on his social media status. Police are searching for a second voter accused of the same offence at the same station, who allegedly insulted the presiding officer when confronted.
The arrests sit inside the security operation set out in Monday’s edition: 139 election related crime dockets including 20 murders recorded during the election period, 331 high risk voting stations, and the defence force on standby through November 30. The Electoral Commission has also warned against ballot selfies as the final special voting day concluded. Wednesday’s poll will redraw municipal government nationally and test the ANC and DA partnership at local level.