Police on high alert ahead of polls

The voting stations will again be open on May 8 for more than 26 millions registered voters to cast their ballots for the national and provincial elections.

While the Independent Electoral Commission is working around the clock to ensure the smooth running of the elections, police will deploy officers across the country to ensure the safety of voters.

Mpumalanga police say they are on high alert following simmering tensions in some communities ahead of the polls.

"We have deployed a considerable number of police at voting stations today because we don't want to take any chances and we also have reserved police that will be responsible to deal with any eventuality because you will know that this time of the year or should I say during the elections, there are those people that will be trying to take chances," says police spokesperson, Leonard Hlathi.

Hlathi says particular focus will be placed on hot-spots.

"Yes there are few areas that we looking up for like Acornhoek cluster, Pienaar cluster, Middleburg cluster, as well as KwaMhlanga cluster. Those are the areas that we are also looking for because recently we had you know a whole range of protests for service delivery."

Police Minister Bheki Cele will address and inspect law enforcement parades in other hot spot provinces, including the Western Cape.