The Institute for Security Studies (ISS) predicts that South Africa's national and provincial elections on May 29th will be the most fiercely contested since the country embraced democracy in 1994. Recent surveys suggest a potential shift in power, with the ruling African National Congress (ANC) facing challenges in maintaining its national majority and control over key provinces like Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal. This election season also sees the emergence of several new political parties actively engaging in campaigns. Moreover, the ISS acknowledges that disruptions during election periods are not uncommon in South Africa. To address potential challenges, Defence and Military Veterans Minister Thandi Modise announced the establishment of a task team focused on combating election-related crimes. This includes proactive measures to tackle offenses such as electoral fraud, corruption, and the defacement or removal of campaign materials. Modise's remarks were made during a media briefing in Pretoria, emphasising the government's readiness to uphold the integrity of the electoral process. In this conversation we take a look at what electoral fraud entails and how far the state has gone to ensure it does not occur in this election. Independent Electoral Analyst Michael Atkins and Senior Training Coordinator at the Institute of Security Studies Willem Els.