By BAKANG MOKOTO
3 August 2026 – Only one election-related incident was reported at Ditshukutshwaneng in Ganyesa village, near Vryburg on Saturday morning, where members of the Public Order Police (POP) were required to use rubber bullets to disperse a crowd attempting to shut down the voter registration station. The crowd allegedly pelted police officers with stones, resulting in damage to one state vehicle.
The North West police spokesperson, Colonel Adele Myburgh said high-visibility policing, intelligence-led operations, Public Order Policing deployments and rapid response capabilities remained in place and continued to address any incidents that may arisen. Myburgh said the Provincial Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (PROVJOINTS) assured community members that all role players were actively involved in ensuring the successful and safe implementation of the second voter registration weekend across the North West.
“The South African Police Service (SAPS), working closely with other government departments represented within PROVJOINTS, remained fully mobilised and continued to support the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) in creating a safe and secure environment.
“This enabled community members to exercise their democratic right to register to vote freely and without fear or intimidation. Community members who have applied for identity documents at the Department of Home Affairs were urged to collect their documents, as a valid identity document was required to register and to cast a vote,” she said.
Myburgh further said there were 34 703 identity documents available for collection across the province.
Meanwhile, the North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Arthur Adams said the police will remain committed to safeguarding the democratic process and ensuring that every eligible voter is able to register in a safe, secure and peaceful environment. Adams commended the cooperation shown by the majority of the communities and urged everyone to respect the rule of law, exercise restraint and resolve any concerns through lawful and peaceful means.
“The South African Police Service (SAPS), together with all PROVJOINTS stakeholders, continued to maintain a visible presence and responded decisively to any acts of intimidation, violence or criminality that threaten the integrity of the voter registration process.
The Guardian 