SouthAfricaputsinplacesecuritymeasuresforupcomingelections:official_GuangmingOnlineJOHANNESBURG,April28(Xinhua)--TheSouthAfricangovernmentonSundayassureditscitizensthattheupcomingnationalandprovincialelectionswillbeconductedinasafeandsecureenvironment,withjustonemonthtogobeforeSouthAfricanvotersheadtothepolls."Asthegovernment,wewanttoissueasternwarningtoanyonewiththeintentionofdisruptingtheelectionsthatlawenforcementofficerswilldealwiththemdecisivelyandputthembehindbars,"MinisterofDefenseandMilitaryVeteransThandiModisesaidinPretoria,SouthAfrica'sadministrativecapital,whilebriefingthemediaoncrimepreventionandsecuritypreparednessfortheelections.Modisesaidtheywillrelyoncoordinatedandintelligence-ledplanningandoperationsbefore,during,andaftertheelections."Wehaveputmeasuresinplacetoprotectallpublicfacilitiesthatwillbeusedforvoting,includingnationalkeypointsandotheressentialinfrastructurethatmightbetargetedbycriminalelements.Anypersonwhotamperswithordamagesessentialinfrastructureisguiltyofacriminaloffense,andcanbesentencedtoamaximumof30yearsiffoundguilty,"saidModise.Prosecutorsalsostandreadytoprosecuteoffensessuchaselectoralfraudandcorruption,interferencewiththedutiesofelectoralofficials,andforcinganyonetovote,saidModise,whowarnedthepublicagainstspreadingfalseandunverifiedinformation,rumors,andthreats.Theministeraddedthatthesecurityplanwillbeconstantlyreviewedasthesituationchangesandwillbeadaptedasnecessary.AccordingtoSouthAfrica'selectoralmanagementbody,the2024electionsareexpectedtobethemostcompetitiveinthecountry'shistory,withmorethan14,000candidatesvyingfor887seatsinnationalandprovinciallegislatures.SouthAfricawillholdthenationalandlocalgovernmentelectionsonMay29.Editor:DisclaimerTheviewsandopinionsexpressedinthisarticlearethoseoftheauthor's,GMW.cnmakesnorepresentationsastoaccuracy,suitability,orvalidityofanyinformationonthissiteandwillnotbeliableforanyerrors,omissions,ordelaysinthisinformation.