KwaZulu‑Natal police commissioner Lieutenant‑General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi warned officers on Tuesday that they must remain impartial during the province’s local government elections, which are scheduled for Wednesday. The warning was delivered at a multidisciplinary law‑enforcement send‑off parade held at Hoy Park in Durban, where officers from the provincial police, metro police and the South African National Defence Force were briefed on their duties. Mkhwanazi told the officers that their primary role was to protect voters from intimidation, safeguard officials of the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) and ensure that the elections were conducted in a calm and peaceful environment. “You are standing here in different uniforms but with one mission. The mission is to deliver free, fair and credible elections,” he said. The province is preparing for voting across 54 municipalities, with more than 5.8 million registered voters expected to cast ballots. The IEC has identified 165 high‑risk voting stations, 124 of which are in the eThekwini area. Officers were instructed to escort sensitive voting materials from warehouses to polling stations and back, and to monitor stations with static and roving teams. “No movement of voting materials must happen without police escort,” Mkhwanazi added. He warned officers against any action that could threaten the integrity of the elections and emphasized that they should not allow personal political preferences to influence their conduct. “You are an impartial law‑enforcement officer who must treat all political parties equally and with respect,” he said. Officers were reminded that they were not politicians or party agents and that any unprofessional conduct would not be tolerated. Special units, including the Special Task Force and the National Intervention Unit, were placed on standby for the elections. Mkhwanazi urged officers to remain calm and patient, but decisive when enforcing the law. “When it is time to enforce the law, do so uncompromisingly,” he said, adding that the police were not there to negotiate with lawbreakers but to create a safe voting environment. The commissioner also addressed the issue of political involvement. He reminded officers that the special votes they cast on Monday and Tuesday were the closest they could get to any political engagement during the election period. “You are not comrades, and you are not councillor candidates,” he said. Officers who felt conflicted or believed they were not fit for the task were advised not to take up their posts, with disciplinary action for those who failed to meet the required standards. Mkhwanazi concluded by urging officers to serve the public with respect, courtesy, discipline and professionalism, while ensuring their own safety and supporting their colleagues. “Go out there and represent the badge with dignity. Go out there and ensure that residents of KwaZulu‑Natal exercise their right to vote in a safe and secured environment,” he said.
Article source: The Independent Online | Image credit: The Independent Online