Extensive security measures vital to ensure peaceful polls: Analyst

Political analyst Professor Susan Booysen says extensive security measures are vital to ensure a peaceful and credible local government election process.

Special voting gets underway this Monday and continues on Tuesday ahead of the main voting day on Wednesday, which has been declared a public holiday.

The National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS) says it is closely monitoring political violence, protest activity and other potential threats linked to the 2026 local government elections.

The structure has also warned that violence, intimidation and lawlessness will not be tolerated.

Booysen says the security measures are crucial to safeguarding both voters and the integrity of the electoral process.

“It’s important that they are going out of their way to give these assurances to tell us about key points, where action has been taken and give people reminders as to what is permissible or not. But I think this briefing is simultaneously a very stern warning and reminder [that] don’t try anything.”

“I was very interested to see that she also went out of her way to show that processes are unfolding. It’s not soft law that we’ve seen in mass protests where people get arrested and the case just fades. So I think they are trying to get it across: don’t mess with us.”

NATJOINTS co-chairs briefing on security readiness ahead of LGE 2026