The South African Police Service (SAPS) has deployed over 800 police officials from the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro to OR Tambo District Municipality for the Local Government Elections (LGE).
The district municipality has been identified as a hotspot. It consists of over 1 000 voting districts with limited police officials.
Provincial Police Commissioner Vuyisile Ncatha says a police chopper has also been made available to assess the area.
“The categorisation was done and concluded by our intelligence community. Now we know that in OR Tambo, we have three voting stations that are high risk. And that is linked to the number of police officials that we will deploy. OR Tambo has the most voting stations, over 1100. That is where we have our deployment, including our police chopper, and the Provincial Commissioner himself will be leading the operations there in OR Tambo,” adds Ncatha.
#sapsEC [PROVINCIAL COMMISSIONER ADDRESS SAPS MEMBERS AHEAD OF ELECTION DEPLOYMENT]
On Monday, 2 November 2026, Eastern Cape Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Vuyisile Ncata addressed SAPS members gathered in Nelson Mandela Bay ahead of their deployment to the OR Tambo District for election duties.
Welcoming senior management and members, Lt Gen Ncata expressed gratitude to SAPS Head Office for supporting the deployment and thanked members for answering the call to serve during the elections. He reminded members that their responsibility is to ensure all South Africans are able to exercise their democratic right to vote in a safe and secure environment.
The Provincial Commissioner acknowledged the sacrifices members make when leaving their homes and families to serve in other parts of the province. He said he was proud of the positive response shown by members and commended them for their willingness to assist where additional police resources are needed.
Lt Gen Ncata also praised members for their professional appearance and operational readiness, noting that their discipline and commitment reflected the high standards expected of the South African Police Service. He urged members to maintain discipline throughout the deployment, comply with all electoral and operational regulations, and remain focused on their responsibilities.
Highlighting the importance of teamwork and command and control, he encouraged members to work closely with their commanders and support personnel to ensure a successful deployment. He further called on members to treat all stakeholders, including transport service providers, with respect and professionalism.
The Provincial Commissioner concluded by thanking Station Commanders and senior officers for supporting the deployment and wished all members a safe journey. He expressed confidence in their ability to represent Nelson Mandela Bay with pride and professionalism while contributing to free and fair elections in the province.
Lt Gen Ncata wished members success in their deployment and prayed for their safety throughout the election period. #SafetyAndSecurity #LGE2026 ML
— SA Police Service
(@SAPoliceService) November 2, 2026