Cape Town — National Police Commissioner, Fannie Masemola, confirmed that police have opened an enquiry to investigate the alleged fraudulent signatures acquired by the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party.
This comes after former leader and senior official of the party, Lennox Ntsado, claimed that the MK Party forged signatures to secure its registration for the 2024 elections. The IEC said it would call on authorities to investigate the validity of the signatures, as it is imperative for free and fair elections.
According to EWN, Masmeola spoke to media at a police Imbizo in Inanda, Durban, and confirmed that an enquiry was opened in Cape Town. He said should any concrete evidence be found, steps would be taken.
“There is an enquiry that has is opened a the Cape Town central police station, it is being investigated by the detectives in Cape Town, it’s at an initial stage to verify if there is a case that has happened. If it found that the elements of crime are all there, then the case will then proceed to the National Prosecution Authority for a decision.” Masemola said.
NDABANEWS: BREAKING – The police have launched an investigation into the #MKParty for allegedly forging signatures that were submitted to the Electoral Commission of South Africa (#IEC), national police commissioner Fannie Masemola said on Tuesday. pic.twitter.com/4WXUSLCQ7a
— Thulani Ndaba (@tndaba) April 30, 2024
Police are currently ramping up its secuirty ahead of the elections on 29 May, with Police Minister, Bheki Cele, saying there were concerns over the possibility of violence in the lead-up to the elections, he was confident the police would maintain law and order, News24 reported.
He told reporters the police were looking to charge others for “threatening the elections”.
“We are talking with the NPA regarding statements that have been made by others … we will never allow people to call for war if [the] elections don’t favour them.” Cele said.
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
