PRETORIA — Over the course of South Africa's three-day election period this week, police detained a total of ninety individuals, National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola announced on Sunday. The arrests were reported as South Africans participated in a notably contested national election, which concluded with voting on Wednesday, May 29.

According to South African Government News Agency, the police action started on Monday, the first day of special votes, with 26 cases recorded and 24 arrests. On Tuesday, an additional nine individuals were detained following 32 reported incidents. The most arrests occurred on Election Day itself, with 57 arrests out of 37 cases. Out of the total arrests, the majority of individuals have been released on bail, with twenty-two still detained as of Sunday.

The announcement came during a media briefing held by the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS) regarding the third phase of its operational activities for the 2024 National and Provincial Elections. This briefing took place hours before the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) was set to announce the election results.

At the same briefing, Police Minister Bheki Cele, addressing the security measures, stated that the Justice Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) cluster was satisfied with the law enforcement's efforts during the elections. The NATJOINTS provided an assessment on the security situation and affirmed readiness to manage any potential instability in the post-election phase.