‘You march, you commit a crime’: Police issue stern warning ahead of local government elections - IOL

Police have warned that no marches or protests will be allowed on Wednesday’s local government election day.

That is the stern from National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS) chairperson Lieutenant-General Tebello Mosikili, who has warned that no marches or protests will be allowed on Wednesday, November 4, the day of the 2026 local government elections.

Mosikili said anyone who takes part in a march or protest on election day will be committing a crime and will face a response from law enforcement officers deployed across the country.

"Protest, I do not want to even encourage, as I have indicated that it is prohibited in terms of electoral processes that on the day of election no one should protest. If you want to protest, protest, marches end at midnight on Tuesday," she said.

She reiterated that demonstrations would not be permitted on the day of casting ballots.

"But on Wednesday, which is the day of the election, no marches, no protests would be allowed, as that would be committing a crime.

"You march, you commit a crime and it would be responded to accordingly by the deployed law enforcement that is on the ground," Mosikili said.

She was speaking during a media briefing at the SAPS Academy in Tshwane on Sunday, ahead of the much-anticipated elections.

Mosikili, the Deputy National Commissioner for Policing, said security assessments were taking into account political tensions, service delivery protests, anti-foreigner sentiment, labour disputes and other developments that could destabilise the electoral environment.

In KwaZulu-Natal, authorities are monitoring protest-related developments, including compliance with a recent Durban High Court interim order involving the acting Minister of Police, Professor Firoz Cachalila, and controversial anti-migrant movement March and March.

The order restricts intimidation, violence, property damage and road obstructions. It also prohibits demonstrations within 100m of voting stations during voting, counting and the announcement of results.

In the Western Cape, taxi-related violence remains an operational concern, with law enforcement agencies continuing interventions to stabilise affected areas.

Mosikili warned that police would not tolerate attempts to intimidate voters, threaten election officials or prevent citizens from exercising their democratic rights.

"No individual or organisation has the right to obstruct voting stations, threaten electoral officials, intimidate voters or undermine another person's democratic rights," she said.

"The government, through NATJOINTS, will respond decisively to criminal conduct, with all offenders dealt with in accordance with the law, while protecting legitimate political participation and peaceful protest."

She called on political parties, candidates and their supporters to exercise restraint and avoid conduct that could undermine the elections.

Meanwhile, members of March and March and others participating in the movement's anti-illegal immigration protests have been barred from demonstrating during the election period.

When protests resume, they may only take place between 10am and 3pm and along designated routes.

The Durban High Court further ruled on Friday that protesters may not carry weapons, obscure their faces or engage in violent conduct.

The order followed an application by Cachalia and KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi for an interdict restricting the movement from marching in the Durban CBD and around the Home Affairs Refugee Reception Centre on Che Guevara Road.

Meanwhile, 29.2 million registered voters are expected to participate in the 2026 local government elections on Wednesday.

Special voting takes place on Monday, November 2, and Tuesday, November 3, ahead of election day.

A total of 2,655,067 voters have been approved for special voting. This includes people who cannot reach voting stations because of physical infirmity or disability, as well as registered voters who will be unable to vote in their wards on election day.

Of those approved, 678,525 voters will receive home visits, while 1,976,542 will cast their ballots at their registered voting stations.

Gauteng has the highest number of approved special voters, at 480,721, followed by the Eastern Cape with 401,971 and KwaZulu-Natal with 348,971.