Around 300 peace observers to be deployed in KZN ahead of the LGE

Civil society groups in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) will be deploying about 300 peace observers in all 11 districts of the province. This is to ensure peace and stability during the local government elections.

The deployment comes after the police identified more than 10 hotspots in KZN ahead of the polls on the 1st of November. The hotspot areas include all hostels, Phoenix, Mtubatuba, Estcourt, Howick and Newcastle.

The civil society groups from church-based organisations, traditional leaders, businesses and other institutes officially launched a KwaZulu-Natal election forum.

They all committed themselves to help ensure peaceful, free and fair elections.

CEO of the KwaZulu-Natal Christian Council, Doctor Douglas Dziva says all tensions and conflicts will be resolved on time.

“So in all, we have 44 violence monitors distributed across the province in the 11 districts so that any tensions and conflict are resolved well on time. So in each of the 11 districts, we are recruiting 30 observers that will be mobile domestic observers and will be displayed in hotspot areas that have been identified by the police. So we will have 300 observers deployed from eminent leaders.”

The province has borne the brunt of violent widespread protests with pro-Zuma supporters calling for his release in July.

The former President Jacob Zuma was incarcerated for contempt of court but has been released on medical parole.

In mid-September, clashes between ANC and EFF members ensued at the Sakhamuzi Community Hall voting station in KwaDambuza area outside Pietermaritzburg in KwaZulu-Natal

The clash started when EFF leader Julius Malema arrived to monitor voter registration. 

As ANC members tried to prevent Malema from getting inside the voting station. while EFF members also pushed through resulting in the gates falling down.