Addressing the media in Nongoma on Friday on the state of readiness for all nine provinces, ministers of safety and security, intelligence and defence said the province would remain under their watchful eye until the election-related activities were over.

"The province remains [under] the watchful eye of the security cluster until the election-related activities are over," Safety and Security Minister Nathi Mthethwa said.

"We remain hopeful that besides the high number of recorded incidents, the province is under strict control and will deliver a peaceful and fair election.?

He was reading a statement prepared by the security cluster after six weeks of assessment.

Mthethwa said Nongoma, Escort, Ulundi, KwaDukuza, Greytown, Umsinga and hostels were identified as hotspots.

He said the cluster had in the past few weeks deployed national intervention units, intelligence units and the SA National Defence Force to nab people involved in politically-related incidents.

?In this regard, the units have successfully arrested 60 suspects on election-related matters with one unfortunate death in Nongoma. Overall in the entire province we received nine numbers of fatalities and made breakthroughs in six cases.?

The units deployed in Nongoma had recovered 22 illegal firearms including AK-47s.

Mthethwa said deployed units would not be removed from Nongoma.

His comment came after Inkatha Freedom Party leaders complained that Mthethwa said the security clusters' leadership would remain in the province even on election day next Wednesday.

The ministers would visit all areas regarded as hotspots on Friday and Saturday, he said.