Cele: All ballot papers to be escorted by SAPS to counting stations
Police Minister Bheki Cele says members of the South African Police Service will escort all ballot papers to local storage sites and counting stations.
These sites will then be guarded on a 24-hour basis.
Nearly 3,000 members of the South African National Defence Force have been deployed to strengthen the police’s work in safeguarding the elections.
On Wednesday morning, millions of eligible South African voters braved the cold weather and lined up at various poll stations to cast their votes.
The stations opened at 7 am and will close at 9 pm on Wednesday.
Speaking to the media after casting his vote at the Lamontville High School in KZN, Cele said the elections are off to a peaceful start.
“Stations have been opened and we hope people will keep within the law.
“There will be no ballot papers that will go without an escort but the communication must be improved by the IEC to make the call on members of the SAPS.
“There are areas where there will be the SANDF, but not too many of them because there is no war in the country, but in other areas, it will be the metro police.”
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