News24 | Ramaphosa deploys 2 828 SANDF members to ensure peaceful elections

SA army members have been deployed to ensure a smooth election on Wednesday. (Darren Stewart/Gallo Images)

• President Cyril Ramaphosa authorised the deployment of 2 828 SANDF members to ensure a peaceful election. 
• Ramaphosa informed the National Assembly that the deployment would cost taxpayers R59 451 704.
• Find everything you need to know about the 2024 general elections on News24's Elections Hub.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has deployed 2 828 South African National Defence Force (SANDF) personnel to maintain law and order when South Africans head to the polls on Wednesday.

In an announcement made on Tuesday night, Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said Ramaphosa had informed the National Assembly that the deployment would cost R59 451 704.

Magwenya said: "President Ramaphosa has informed the Acting Speaker of the National Assembly and the chairperson of the National Council of Provinces that the employment of SANDF personnel will form part of Operation PROSPER and applies from 20 May to 7 June 2024.

"This employment is authorised in accordance with the provisions of Section 201(2) (a) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa of 1996, read with Section 19 of the Defence Act of 2002 (Act No.42 of 2002)." 

READ | 'The country is in good hands': Strict measures in place to ensure the elections run smoothly

Law enforcement agencies have been on high alert since the much-anticipated election season kicked off. 

News24 reported that, in its last media briefing, the Justice Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) cluster assured South Africans that strict measures were in place to ensure the national elections ran smoothly.

The JCPS cluster said it had coordinated with the government to ensure that any threats or potential threats, which could compromise the integrity and smooth running of elections, were dealt with. 

Former president Jacob Zuma's uMkhonto weSizwe Party, launched on 16 December, had previously threatened violence if Zuma's face was not on the ballot. 

Police Minister Bheki Cele previously said anarchy and violence would not be tolerated on voting day.