DURBAN, Thursday 5 November 2026 — Police in KwaZulu-Natal have recorded at least 18 election-related cases and arrested seven suspects since special voting began for South Africa’s 2026 local government elections.
The figures were disclosed by Acting Provincial Police Commissioner Phumelele Makoba during a briefing at the provincial Results Operations Centre in Durban.
According to SABC News, the cases include allegations of intimidation, assault and malicious damage to property.
Police report isolated incidents
Makoba said the province remained largely calm following the closure of voting stations on Wednesday evening, despite incidents of political intolerance in some areas.
Police also reported isolated confrontations between supporters of competing political parties.
Some disputes were resolved without criminal cases being opened.
The provincial police deployment included additional attention to voting stations identified as presenting elevated security risks.
Makoba said police had made arrangements to secure 165 high-risk voting stations, alongside stations classified as medium or low risk.
Investigations continue
The reported arrests and criminal cases highlight the security challenges associated with conducting elections in politically contested areas.
However, the existence of a criminal case does not establish that an offence has been proved, and the allegations against arrested suspects remain subject to investigation and judicial processes.
The provincial police figures cover incidents recorded since the start of special voting and should not be interpreted as cases occurring exclusively on election day.
Police are expected to continue investigating outstanding matters as the Electoral Commission completes counting and verification.
Further updates may establish the nature of the individual offences, the status of the suspects and whether any incidents affected voting or the integrity of election materials.
