The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) is concerned about the safety of the voters following a shooting of three people at Nongoma over the weekend.

"We are obviously concerned because it is going to be very difficult for us to conduct free and fair elections in an atmosphere where there is violence and a lack of political tolerance," IEC chief electoral officer Pansy Tlakula told SABC radio.

She said the electoral code of conduct only came into effect after the president announced the election date.

"It is incumbent for political parties to report acts of violence to the police. The police also have to be seen to be acting against the perpetrators of criminal conduct," said Tlakula.

"I think the main players are the political parties themselves and the police. We are committed to ensuring that everybody abides by the law but the police and the political parties have to do the same."

Several African National Congress members were injured in Nongoma in northern KwaZulu-Natal where the ANC and its rival, the Inkatha Freedom Party, staged election rallies.

Three ANC members were shot and injured while returning from an ANC rally on Sunday while six others were pelted with stones when buses transporting ANC members were attacked.