Police in KwaZulu-Natal are bracing for possible unrest, fearing riots similar to those that erupted in the province in July 2021, following the announcement of the results of the 2024 general elections on Sunday.
Also read: IEC declares national and provincial elections free and fair
Two Crime Intelligence insiders revealed to News24 that by 5pm on Sunday, scores of officers from the Public Order Police unit and the Tactical Response Team had been deployed to the area to prevent civil unrest.
Residents’ organisations and community policing forums are also preparing, with residents expressing a desire not to be caught off guard again.
No incidents have been reported thus far.
The face of the uMkontho weSizwe Party (MKP), former president Jacob Zuma, insisted on Saturday night that the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) not announce the election results until the party’s grievances, which included baseless allegations of vote-rigging and its demand for a recount, were addressed.
Zuma claimed that making any announcement would be tantamount to inciting the MK Party, which had lodged complaints with the IEC alongside several other political parties.
‘We have a bigger right than anybody else to demand that, it is us who are citizens. Institutions can’t say: “We can’t listen to you and let us rush rush” because that is provoking people in reality,’ Zuma said.
The party asserted that the IEC’s systems had been compromised and that there had been vote-rigging without offering any evidence.
However, the IEC declared the elections free and fair after releasing the results on Sunday night.
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The MKP has become the dominant party in KwaZulu-Natal, winning 45% of the vote and surpassing the ANC’s 18%.
Zuma’s party emerged victorious despite numerous setbacks and allegations of arrogance by ANC officials in provincial and national structures, who have been accused of failing to pay attention to issues in KwaZulu-Natal.
It was already Saturday night, and there were concerns that the province would experience another wave of unrest.
The unrest in July 2021 began when Zuma was arrested for refusing to appear before the Zondo Commission investigating state capture, as ordered by the Constitutional Court.
During the unrest, 350 people were killed, and damage to infrastructure and businesses cost the South African economy R50 billion, with an additional two million jobs lost or affected.
An insider who has knowledge of police deployments in the province told News24 that police were sent to key areas and were keeping an ear to the ground for tip-offs on any ‘flare-ups’.
Police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said there had been no reports of roadblocks or unrest since Sunday evening.
A Durban Crime Intelligence source said they were also on high alert.
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