If violence ensues, as a result of a member resisting removal, the presiding officer may suspend proceedings, and members of the security services may be called upon to assist with the removal of identified members; provided that the Security Services may intervene directly anywhere when there is immediate danger to the life or safety of any person or damage to any property.

These are among the amended rules by Chief Justice Raymond Zondo. The amendments were published on Thursday, the eve before the first sitting of the National Assembly.

According to the amendments, the Legislature’s designated Protection Services, and members of the Security Services are not permitted to be armed.

“No member may use offensive, abusive, insulting, disrespectful, unbecoming or unacceptable words or language, nor offensive, unbecoming or threatening gestures,” Zondo instructed.

Safety is high on the list of concerns ahead of Friday’s first sitting of the National Assembly following former President Jacob Zuma’s uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK Party) losing its legal bid to stop the Parliament sitting on the basis that the election was rigged.

On Thursday afternoon, the  National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS) concluded a security state of readiness walkabout where a full security assessment was conducted to ensure all security measures were “aligned according to the integrated safety and security plan ahead of the first sitting of the National Assembly.”

The walkabout was preceded by a NATJOINTS meeting with all relevant stakeholders involved in the planning, coordination and execution of the security plan this morning in Cape Town.

Deputy national police commissioner Lieutenant General Tebello Mosikili said NATJOINTS was still in the third phase of its national and provincial elections plan.

“As a structure, we are thus far satisfied with how our law enforcement agencies have responded to all incidents throughout the country during the elections phase.”  

“It is therefore fitting to say, as the NATJOINTS and all our PROVJOINTS structures we are ready to ensure the continued smooth running of all events that are yet to be held including the first sitting in Cape Town, and all Provincial Legislature sittings taking place simultaneously in all provinces,” she said.

No disruptions will be allowed and tolerated by law enforcement.

Lieutenant General Tebello Mosikili

Mosikili said the Western Cape Provincial Legislature sitting on Thursday took place in a safe and secure environment.

“We remain confident that all others, just like this one, will take place without any disruptions. Our integrated safety and security plan is in place and all critical role players are ready to execute their various responsibilities as per their mandate.”

She said all law enforcement agencies coordinated through the NATJOINTS had mobilised resources to ensure deployments were in place, including heightening police visibility around the Cape Town International Convention Centre to prevent “any form of opportunistic crimes before, during and post the planned sitting.”

“It is important to emphasise that those who are not accredited or authorized to be in attendance, should avoid the area around the Cape Town International Convention Centre on Friday, 14 June 2024.”

“Only those with permits and digital access cards will be allowed near the venue and restricted areas. It is important to highlight, that the unauthorised transfer of these access cards is punishable by law.”

Mosikili said all law enforcement agencies deployed to secure the event will enforce the law at all times and at all areas of deployment.

“Each and every member deployed has a responsibility and an obligation to execute their respective mandates professionally, impartially and with integrity.  It is on this note, that we request everyone within the vicinity of the convention centre to cooperate with law enforcement officers. Any lawlessness and any form of criminality and any behaviour that contravenes the law will be dealt with.”

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In its latest report, titled The Politics of Murder, the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC) found an average of at least one political hit every two weeks between January and April this year.

the killings are brutal, often carried out by hitmen with little regard for bystanders and frequently targeting high-profile individuals. The killings have also become more brazen, with victims targeted at public gatherings, often in front of children and community members

GI-TOC

In the report, GI-TOC analysts Chwayita Thobela and Rumbi Matamba said there were always spikes in political assassinations during election years, particularly in long-contested provinces such as KwaZulu-Natal.

“The 2024 elections, the sixth national election in the country’s 30 years of democracy, have been earmarked as a potential watershed moment, with the ruling African National Congress (ANC) facing challenges in securing its National Assembly majority. Recent changes in what has long been a stagnant political landscape include a rise in coalition governments and the formation of several new political parties, most significantly the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party, whose campaigning has been led by former president Jacob Zuma.”

“The MK party already holds substantial support in Zuma’s home province of KwaZulu-Natal, a former ANC stronghold, where it threatens to dilute ANC votes. The ANC’s waning influence, on the back of high unemployment and crime rates, cost of living increases and widespread government corruption, including unaddressed state capture revelations, means that the 2024 elections could see several political power shifts.”

GI-TOC said the breakdown of hits by province follows the pattern of previous years, with the highest number of political assassinations in 2023 recorded in KwaZulu-Natal.

“Significantly fewer cases were recorded in Gauteng (two), the Eastern Cape (two), Limpopo (one), Mpumalanga (three) and the Western Cape (four). The motives behind these killings in KwaZulu-Natal and elsewhere vary, but include eliminating political rivals, intimidating voters, removing competitors for local government contracts, targeting municipal workers responsible for awarding these contracts, and silencing those who speak out against corruption, particularly in local government.”

While around 64 elections are happening around the world in 2024, South Africa’s elections stand out for “the very real threat of violence that they bring,  a cumulation of the influence of criminal networks and state-embedded actors in driving criminality.”

“Indeed, targeted killings in South Africa are interconnected with criminal networks and state-embedded actors, with flare-ups in violence from competition in the minibus taxi industry, gang dynamics and electoral disputes.”

“Targeted killings affect who can contest in municipal elections, lead to increased violence in gang-afflicted communities, influence transparency and accountability in state-owned enterprises, and affect the provision of essential services such as water, electricity and sanitation. Targeted killings are a manifestation of the extent of criminal governance in South Africa, with criminals filling the gaps left by the state, with particularly devastating consequences for a relatively young democracy,” the report said.

Thobela and Matamba said violence not only violates political and civil rights but also undermines democracy by allowing criminal elements to influence or control government functions.

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