Election security operation records 122 arrests as police probe 21 politically linked murders

South Africa’s 2026 Local Government Elections saw more than 120 arrests linked to electoral offences and other crimes, while police continue to investigate 21 politically motivated murders recorded during the election period.

The figures were released by the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS) during a Security Cluster briefing on Thursday, as authorities provided an assessment of the security operation covering the election period.

NATJOINTS said, a total of 65 criminal case dockets were registered and 32 suspects arrested during the two special voting days on 2 and 3 November.

KwaZulu-Natal recorded the highest number of cases during special voting, with 16 dockets and eight arrests, followed by Limpopo with 13 cases and 11 arrests.

The Eastern Cape recorded eight cases and three arrests, while Gauteng registered seven cases and three arrests. Mpumalanga recorded five cases and four arrests, while the Free State and North West each recorded four cases, with no arrests in the Free State.

The Western Cape recorded eight cases with no arrests, while no cases were reported in the Northern Cape during the special voting period.

On Voting Day on 4 November, authorities recorded 85 incidents, resulting in 57 criminal case dockets and 27 arrests.

The incidents included 32 alleged contraventions of the Electoral Act, four assaults, two cases of malicious damage to property and two intimidation cases.

Police also recorded cases involving theft, crimen injuria, drunk and disorderly conduct, public violence, business burglary and fraud.

KwaZulu-Natal recorded the highest number of Voting Day cases, with 15 dockets and six arrests, followed by Limpopo with 11 cases and four arrests.

The Eastern Cape recorded 10 cases and four arrests, while Gauteng registered eight cases and seven arrests.

Mpumalanga recorded three cases and three arrests, the Free State two cases and two arrests, and the Northern Cape one case and one arrest.

North West recorded three cases with no arrests at the time of the briefing, while the Western Cape recorded four cases with no arrests.

21 politically motivated murders under investigation

Despite the overall assessment that Voting Day was largely peaceful, NATJOINTS revealed that 21 murder cases believed to be politically motivated have been registered in connection with the election period.

The cases include the murder of a member of the MK Party in KwaZulu-Natal.

Police are also investigating killings that occurred away from voting stations and outside voting hours.

In Bushbuckridge, Mpumalanga, a 57-year-old man was shot and killed in the early hours of Thursday, 5 November.

In Limpopo, a 31-year-old man was killed in a stabbing incident at a park opposite Florapark Comprehensive School in Polokwane. Police arrested a 35-year-old man in connection with the murder.

Another murder was reported in KwaZulu-Natal after a man was allegedly attacked and killed while walking home on Voting Day.

Two other deaths were reported during the election period involving an elderly woman in Shallcross, KwaZulu-Natal, who collapsed and later died at hospital, and an IEC official who died following a similar reported incident at Buhrmansdrift in the Ngaka Modiri Molema District in North West on 2 November.

331 high-risk voting stations monitored

NATJOINTS said its security operation was intelligence-led and focused on areas identified as presenting heightened risks.

A total of 331 high-risk voting stations were identified nationally, including 165 in KwaZulu-Natal, 119 in Gauteng, 33 in the Western Cape and 11 in Mpumalanga.

The Security Cluster said planned marches and protests did not materialise on the scale anticipated, while police responded to operational, logistical and service delivery-related incidents at several voting stations.

Authorities also took action against individuals within the electoral environment.

SAPS acted against an officer in KwaZulu-Natal who arrived at a voting station in a vehicle displaying political party branding, while IEC officials were also subjected to action over alleged electoral transgressions.

NATJOINTS said the interventions demonstrated that electoral rules applied to everyone, including officials responsible for protecting the process.

Security operation continues after voting

Although voting has concluded, the security operation remains active as ballots are counted, reconciled, verified and captured.

NATJOINTS said its focus has shifted towards protecting voting materials, securing results operations and safeguarding the integrity of the results-management process.

“The electoral environment is protected by the rule of law,” the Security Cluster said, warning that intimidation, violence, electoral misconduct and criminality would not be tolerated.

The Security Cluster said it would maintain its operational posture until the 2026 Local Government Elections are formally concluded.