Gauteng police complete election risk assessments ahead of polls
Gauteng Police Commissioner Tommy Mthombeni says the South African Police Service (SAPS), together with the State Security Agency, has completed risk assessments ahead of Wednesday’s local government elections.
Mthombeni briefed the media, alongside other law enforcement agencies, on heightened security and operational readiness for the elections.
Speaking in Parktown, Johannesburg, on Tuesday, Mthombeni said they have identified high risk voting stations across the province.
“We have Johannesburg District with 75 voting stations rated high risk, with 173 voting stations medium risk, followed by Ekurhuleni with 23 voting stations at high risk. Tshwane has one voting station at high risk. West Rand with six, however in West Rant one would say in terms of medium risk is the second highest of which is having 63 voting stations that is following Johannesburg with 173 voting stations.”
#sapsGP [GAUTENG PROVINCIAL COMMISSIONER, LT GEN TOMMY MTHOMBENI VISITS SEVERAL GAUTENG VOTING STATIONS] #LGE2026 #SafetyAndSecurity
With 2026 local government election special vote underway, Provincial Commissioner Lt General Tommy Mthombeni and his two Deputy Provincial Commissioners, Major General Fred Kekana and Major General Mbuso Khumalo together Johannesburg District Commissioner, Major General Nonhlanhla Kubheka visited several voting stations in the district as part of efforts to ensure that Electoral Commission officials and citizens of Gauteng are and feel safe.
He further conducted an interview on the ground with the media to elaborate on the police readiness and efforts to ensure a safe and secure local government election. #PoliceVisibility ME
— SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) November 3, 2026
Gauteng police have recorded 24 cases of election-related violence and intimidation since voter registration in June, including murder, assault and the defacing of political posters.
Mthombeni says 13 people have been arrested, with two still in custody. He says police will prioritise safety across the country.
“Then from the Gauteng provincial joint, we are putting a full commitment into ensuring that we are here to protect and create a safe and secure environment for the inhabitants of this province.”
Mthombeni says the police force has broken down its operations into four phases. The first two phases have been completed during the voter registration weekends, and phase three is currently underway.
He says phase four will be post-election security needed during vote counting, as well as protecting and policing result centres.
“Phase four, which is a post-election phase, we have made a reflection; it’s on the 5th of November 2026 going forward. Here we will be focusing on securing the counting process on this Phase four linked to the results operation centers policing the announcement of the results and related celebration as we will also assess the stability within the province for the affected areas and of course stemming from the desk of the President of South Africa.”
VIDEO | IEC briefing on special votes:
