Police sent to guard Zululand voting stations, told to stop firearms at the door

Police officers deployed across the Zululand district for the 2026 Local Government Elections have been told to keep firearms and other dangerous weapons out of voting stations, and to make sure no voter is made to cast a ballot under duress.

The instruction came from the district commissioner of Zululand, Major General Jabu Khumalo, in an address to officers on parade, according to a statement posted on the South African Police Service’s official X account.

“If there was ever a time for us to regain community trust, this is the time,” Khumalo told the officers. “Your deployment is to ensure that nobody causes other people to vote under duress, no one must threaten the integrity of the 2026 Local Government Elections in our district and no one must enter the voting station with firearms and other dangerous weapons.”

The statement said Khumalo told the parade that the reputation of the police is at stake and that officers must be disciplined and professional while carrying out their duties.

SAPS said the deployment will keep static police posts at voting stations, alongside roving teams intended to raise police visibility and respond to any eventuality.

The statement did not say how many officers have been deployed in the district or which voting stations will carry a police presence.