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"title": "Security teams on alert to mitigate violence and intimidation at 500 high-risk voting stations",
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"description": "Daily Maverick is an independent online news publication and weekly print newspaper in South Africa.\r\n\r\nIt is known for breaking some of the defining stories of South Africa in the past decade, including the Marikana Massacre, in which the South African Police Service killed 34 miners in August 2012.\r\n\r\nIt also investigated the Gupta Leaks, which won the 2019 Global Shining Light Award.\r\n\r\nThat investigation was credited with exposing the Indian-born Gupta family and former President Jacob Zuma for their role in the systemic political corruption referred to as state capture.\r\n\r\nIn 2018, co-founder and editor-in-chief Branislav ‘Branko’ Brkic was awarded the country’s prestigious Nat Nakasa Award, recognised for initiating the investigative collaboration after receiving the hard drive that included the email tranche.\r\n\r\nIn 2021, co-founder and CEO Styli Charalambous also received the award.\r\n\r\nDaily Maverick covers the latest political and news developments in South Africa with breaking news updates, analysis, opinions and more.",
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"contents": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With the elections only 30 days away, the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) cluster briefed the nation on the level of preparedness to ensure the safety and security of the landmark elections.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While the JCPS was elusive about specific details of security plans, Defence Minister Thandi Modise said the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (Natjoints) and the Provincial Joint Operation and Intelligence Structure had joined forces to ensure a coordinated and intelligence-led planning of operations, during and after the highly contested elections to curb intimidation and violence.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A crime and threat pattern analysis from Natjoints which had informed the development of the security plan, had led to a fit-to-purpose deployment plan that would deal with potential crime and violence in and around voting stations and result centres.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Police Minister Bheki Cele revealed that out of more than 23,000 voting stations nationwide, only 500 have been classified as high risk. However, Cele did not reveal the areas in which these stations were situated or in-depth plans to mitigate violence, intimidation and unrest.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Asked how many law enforcement officers would be deployed to voting stations across the country on 29 May, Cele refused to reveal the exact number, saying only there would be an adequate police presence.</span>\r\n<h4><b>Voting overseas</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">All systems are a go for South Africans living overseas to participate in the upcoming polls, it was revealed. International Relations Minister Naledi Pandor said arrangements at embassies and consulates have proceeded as normal, and the Department of International Relations and Cooperation is already for </span><a href=\"https://www.elections.org.za/pw/News-And-Media/Events/Event-Details/Election-Day-Abroad-2024-National-Election?a=Gof/rYkF+kMJKFMJ+CqZ3ZTO16t8wN09LOEr6aU5Q8I4hjJB/HLiDC4liM2mOyInzB0hybbQJRS+d8q644KqQQ==\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">citizens living abroad to cast their votes</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> on 17 and 18 May.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The only outstanding issue is the question of honorary consuls acting as voting stations, which is currently before the Constitutional Court.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An honorary consul is an individual who is asked to represent South Africa as a friend of South Africa but is not a mission of the republic. The ConCourt must rule on the Electoral Court’s decision that consulates headed by honorary consuls should be used as voting stations.</span>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2159496\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/ED_457372.jpg\" alt=\"elections voting\" width=\"720\" height=\"439\" /> <em>Safety and security preparations for the upcoming 2024 elections have revealed 500 voting stations in high-risk areas. (Photo: Fani Mahuntsi / Gallo Images)</em></p>\r\n<h4><b>Uncollected IDs</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">All South African citizens need their identity documents to take part in the polls. From 6 April the Department of Home Affairs opened its offices on Saturdays from 8am to 1pm so voters can apply for new ID documents and temporary identity certificates, as well as collect them. 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"description": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With the elections only 30 days away, the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) cluster briefed the nation on the level of preparedness to ensure the safety and security of the landmark elections.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While the JCPS was elusive about specific details of security plans, Defence Minister Thandi Modise said the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (Natjoints) and the Provincial Joint Operation and Intelligence Structure had joined forces to ensure a coordinated and intelligence-led planning of operations, during and after the highly contested elections to curb intimidation and violence.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A crime and threat pattern analysis from Natjoints which had informed the development of the security plan, had led to a fit-to-purpose deployment plan that would deal with potential crime and violence in and around voting stations and result centres.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Police Minister Bheki Cele revealed that out of more than 23,000 voting stations nationwide, only 500 have been classified as high risk. However, Cele did not reveal the areas in which these stations were situated or in-depth plans to mitigate violence, intimidation and unrest.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Asked how many law enforcement officers would be deployed to voting stations across the country on 29 May, Cele refused to reveal the exact number, saying only there would be an adequate police presence.</span>\r\n<h4><b>Voting overseas</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">All systems are a go for South Africans living overseas to participate in the upcoming polls, it was revealed. International Relations Minister Naledi Pandor said arrangements at embassies and consulates have proceeded as normal, and the Department of International Relations and Cooperation is already for </span><a href=\"https://www.elections.org.za/pw/News-And-Media/Events/Event-Details/Election-Day-Abroad-2024-National-Election?a=Gof/rYkF+kMJKFMJ+CqZ3ZTO16t8wN09LOEr6aU5Q8I4hjJB/HLiDC4liM2mOyInzB0hybbQJRS+d8q644KqQQ==\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">citizens living abroad to cast their votes</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> on 17 and 18 May.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The only outstanding issue is the question of honorary consuls acting as voting stations, which is currently before the Constitutional Court.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An honorary consul is an individual who is asked to represent South Africa as a friend of South Africa but is not a mission of the republic. The ConCourt must rule on the Electoral Court’s decision that consulates headed by honorary consuls should be used as voting stations.</span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2159496\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"720\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-2159496\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/ED_457372.jpg\" alt=\"elections voting\" width=\"720\" height=\"439\" /> <em>Safety and security preparations for the upcoming 2024 elections have revealed 500 voting stations in high-risk areas. (Photo: Fani Mahuntsi / Gallo Images)</em>[/caption]\r\n<h4><b>Uncollected IDs</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">All South African citizens need their identity documents to take part in the polls. From 6 April the Department of Home Affairs opened its offices on Saturdays from 8am to 1pm so voters can apply for new ID documents and temporary identity certificates, as well as collect them. The offices will also be open on voting day.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In remote areas where there are no official Home Affairs offices, the department plans to open mobile offices, although the dates, times and locations have yet to be finalised.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Branch Appointment Booking System on the department’s website can also be used to book an appointment to collect an ID.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The JCPS has urged citizens to collect ID books at Home Affairs offices before the polls. </span>\r\n\r\n<b>Read more in Daily Maverick: </b><a href=\"https://www-dailymaverick-co-za.webpkgcache.com/doc/-/s/www.dailymaverick.co.za/article_tag/2024-elections/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2024 elections</span></a>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In South Africa, people who are in prisons have the right to register and vote, and the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) and Department of Correctional Services have reminded inmates’ families to ensure their loved ones have access to their IDs so they can do so.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Family members of offenders have been instructed to make arrangements to deliver IDs to the respective correctional facilities. </span><b>DM</b>\r\n\r\n<i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For information about voting and elections, see the </span></i><a href=\"https://www.elections.org.za/pw/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">IEC website</span></i></a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.</span></i>",
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"summary": "During a security cluster media briefing on Sunday, the government committed to having adequate safety in place for voters at the polls, and also urged people to ensure they had their ID documents, adding that overseas voting on 17 and 18 May was on track. ",
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Safety and security preparations for the upcoming 2024 elections have revealed 500 voting stations in high-risk areas. (Photo: Fani Mahuntsi / Gallo Images)