No marches permitted on election day: Makoba

KwaZulu-Natal Acting Provincial Police Commissioner Phumelele Makoba says no marches will be allowed on local government election day, the 4th of November.

Makoba was speaking during a media briefing with Acting Minister of Police Firoz Cachalia and National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola earlier, where they outlined the state of readiness for next week’s elections in the province.

She says that the police know of two marches being planned next week before the elections.

Recent violent demonstrations in Durban prompted the police to apply for a court order to prevent the disruptive and violent demonstrations.

Makoba says: “From the 2nd to 4th (November) there are marches planned particularly on Monday and Tuesday, not Wednesday; and the law limits such rights of demonstration, particularly on election day. We have two of them that are planned, notwithstanding the fact that we can get request on the last minutes and notwithstanding the fact that members of society are permitted and it’s not criminalised to gather and march. So, we have such on a daily basis and we police as they come.”

Meanwhile, police and other law enforcement agencies say they are ready to secure next week’s elections.

They have identified 331 high-risk voting stations and say operational plans, resources and coordination have been put in place in all provinces to ensure a safe voting process.

Details in the report below: