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Police Minister Bheki Cele says that the South African Police Service (SAPS) will ensure that the country’s move to level 1 lockdown is strictly enforced in terms of national regulations.
As the country moves into summer and the days get warmer, law enforcement agencies will have to work harder to end any behavior that threatens containment of the coronavirus, Cele said at a press conference on Tuesday (May 22). September).
“South Africa may be on the lowest alert level of the national shutdown, but law enforcement, on the other hand, will remain on high alert,” he said.
The police minister said that the SAPS will continue to apply the evening curfew that is in effect from 00:00 to 04:00 every day. Cele said the police will also ensure the continued restrictions around the sale of alcohol.
Under the country’s level 1 blockade, the sale of liquor is allowed by authorized premises for off-site consumption. It is allowed from 09:00 to 17:00, Monday through Friday, except weekends and holidays;
The liquor can also be sold in premises authorized for consumption on the site, subject to strict compliance with the curfew.
The police minister “expressed his disgust” for establishments that did not care about the health of South Africans by breaking these rules on alcoholic beverages. He said several shebeens and taverns were caught breaking regulations last weekend.
He added that some restaurants and venues are breaking the rules, putting their customers and other South Africans at risk.
“I want to remind all business owners who insist on breaking the rules, the long arm of the law will catch up with them and they will lose their operating license.”
More than 300,000 detainees
Cele said that since the inception of the lockdown to date, 310,494 people have been arrested and charged with violating the country’s lockdown rules under the Disaster Management Act.
These violations include alcoholic beverages, transportation, cross-border and business-related, he said. The Western Cape recorded the most arrests with 72,137 counts, followed by Gauteng with 59,000 arrests.
While social gatherings, including concerts and events, are now allowed, Cele said nightclubs are still banned under the country’s level 1 lockdown.
The police minister also warned that South Africa will have to comply with existing statutes regarding noise levels, and that SAPS will receive a number of nuisance complaints.
Updated meeting guidelines include:
- Meetings will be allowed as long as the number of people does not exceed 50% of the normal capacity of a venue, up to a maximum of 250 people for indoor meetings and 500 people for outdoor meetings;
- The maximum capacity at funerals has been increased to 100 people;
- Night watches are still forbidden;
- Limits on places like gyms and recreational facilities have been increased to 50% of total capacity;
- The current restrictions on sporting events are maintained.
Read: South Africa’s International Travel List Will Be Based On Risk Levels – Minister
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