Election tensions: Two men arrested over poster removal and alleged intimidation in Limpopo - IOL

Limpopo police have arrested two men in separate incidents involving alleged election-related intimidation, assault and the unlawful removal of campaign material.

Limpopo police have arrested two men in connection with the alleged unlawful removal of election posters and the assault and intimidation of a complainant whose political party T-shirt was reportedly forcibly removed and set alight.

The arrests were made on Monday, November 2, 2026, the first day of special voting for the local government elections.

Limpopo police spokesperson Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba said a male suspect was arrested in the Mankweng policing area for allegedly removing election posters unlawfully.

“The incident was reportedly captured on video,” Mashaba said.

A case was registered at Mankweng Police Station for contravention of Section 92 of the Electoral Act 73 of 1998.

The accused has since appeared in court, and the matter was postponed to November 30, 2026.

In a separate incident, another male suspect was arrested in the Sekhukhune District in connection with a case of assault and intimidation.

“It is alleged that the complainant's political party T-shirt was forcibly removed and subsequently set alight during an incident involving members allegedly affiliated with a political party,” Mashaba said.

A case was registered at Sekhukhune Police Station, and investigations are continuing.

Limpopo Provincial Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Jan Petrus Scheepers reiterated that the South African Police Service (SAPS) would not tolerate acts of intimidation, violence or the unlawful destruction and removal of election material.

He urged political parties, their supporters and communities to respect the law, exercise political tolerance and resolve their differences peacefully.

“Police will continue to monitor election-related incidents and act decisively against anyone found to be violating the law,” he said.

The arrests come as special voting takes place on Monday and Tuesday, ahead of election day on Wednesday.

A total of 2,655,067 voters have been approved for special voting.

This includes people who cannot reach voting stations because of physical infirmity or disability, as well as registered voters who will be unable to vote in their wards on election day.

Of those approved, 678,525 voters will receive home visits, while 1,976,542 will cast their ballots at their registered voting stations.

Gauteng has the highest number of approved special voters, at 480,721, followed by the Eastern Cape with 401,971 and KwaZulu-Natal with 348,971.

Meanwhile, 29.2 million registered voters are expected to participate in the 2026 local government elections on Wednesday.