KwaZulu-Natal police say additional officers will be deployed to areas identified as hotspots for political violence ahead of the November local government elections.
Deputy Provincial Police Commissioner Major General Thulani Gonya was speaking at a meeting of the Provincial Multi-Party Political Intervention Committee in Mayville on Tuesday.
The meeting brought together political parties and law enforcement agencies to discuss election security and political tolerance.
Gonya says police will increase deployments in identified hotspots and strengthen security around teams responsible for transporting ballot boxes during the elections.
He also expressed confidence that arrests will be made in connection with politically linked murders in the province, saying investigators are working to connect the various cases.
“We have a challenge around the eThekwini district whereby we experience murders, attempted murders, as well as in Ugu district,” Gonya said.
He urged political leaders to discourage violence and ensure that their conduct and public statements remain within the law.
“There will be additional deployment in all the areas that we have identified to be the hotspot,” Gonya said.
KwaZulu-Natal has recorded a number of politically motivated killings and attempted killings this year, with eThekwini and Ugu identified by police as areas of concern ahead of the polls.
The meeting is part of efforts to promote political tolerance and create a safe environment for the upcoming local government elections.