IEC clears the air: No election violence hotspots flagged yet

The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has stated that it has not flagged any area as a hotspot for political violence ahead of the upcoming local government elections.

The commission held a media briefing on Tuesday in Centurion to update the public on its preparedness for the polls.

The IEC said an inter-ministerial committee had been tasked with overseeing the smooth administration of the elections.

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Historically, this period in the country has often coincided with political violence. The Moerane Commission into KwaZulu-Natal political killings previously noted that jostling for positions was at the heart of the violence.

SECURITY MEASURES AND WARNING STATUS

To guard against any possible flare-ups, the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJOC) has already been activated, according to the IEC’s deputy chief electoral officer, Masego Sheburi.

Sheburi commented on the process: "In that context, we will begin to receive indications of areas of concern and the mitigation steps that the relevant authorities are taking and the steps that we as a commission may need to take. So far, we have not received any worrying warnings from those structures."

The IEC has urged all political parties to abide by its Electoral Code of Conduct, which advocates for non-violence and tolerance.