“Our security cluster plans are at an advance stage, and of course we cannot give details now,” said Van Rooyen.

Van Rooyen spoke to the African News Agency (ANA) after a peace talks reached a deadlock as protesting villagers vowed to declare the area a no-go area during the 2016 Municipal Elections on August 3.

He said the plan was presented to stakeholders but he refused to divulge details on security.

However, sources said that the security cluster has said that the army would be deployed in Vuwani to help the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) to run the elections.

Violence erupted in Vuwani and surrounding areas after the Municipal Demarcation Board announced that Vuwani will form part of a new municipal entity which also encompass Malamulele.

The IEC failed to run voter’s registration earlier this year after resident’s blockaded road with rubble and stones. Residents spent hours fighting with riot police who were trying to restore peace in the area.

On Friday, traditional leaders and community leaders were set to sign a peace deal. However, the talks collapsed without an agreement being reached.

At a meeting held at VhaVenda King Thovhele Mphephu Ramabulana’s palace on Friday, community leaders rejected the peace deal. They said it was driven by a selfish desire to run elections and overshadow the complaints of residents in the area.

Residents launched protests at the end of April, and shut down the area in a violence that saw more than 24 schools burnt.

They refused to sign the deal and warned their traditional leaders that if they signed they would do so at their own risk.

“As the community structure we have realised that the agreement does cater for the needs of people of Vuwani,” said community leader Nsovo Sambo.

Sambo said the agreement spoke of what would be done after the elections.

“We don’t want to partake in anything that is concerning the new entity. If this agreement is talking about post-election not pre-election, we cannot be part of that agreement.”

Van Rooyen said the decision to bar voting has implications on other people’s rights.

Chief Mmbangiseni Masia said they were optimistic that a solution will be found hoping that engagement with government will yield desired results.

Masia and his community said are refusing to be part of the new municipality.

“The ultimate objective is to resolve the problem, whichever way for as long as this program becomes a history in the near future.”

ANA