[ad_1]
In the early hours of Sunday morning, Police Minister Bheki Cele and members of SAPS and JMPD arrested a club in Sandton, Johannesburg called Blackdoor, for violating the Disaster Management Act.
In addition to allegedly not having a liquor license or service manager, the club was packed beyond capacity, practiced no social distancing, and no patrons wore masks. It was also open well past the 12am curfew.
Scenes inside the #Black door lounge in Sandton, is one of several establishments closed for @SAPoliceService in the early hours of this morning to operate after 12h00 and during #Level 1 Lock. This club was also packed beyond capacity and many did not have masks. pic.twitter.com/uEXNGezNpG
– LirandzuTemba (@LirandzuThemba) October 25, 2020
Police have just closed Blackdoor Lifestyle Lounge in Sandton.
The place was operating after 12h00 (full beyond capacity), they couldn’t present a liquor license, and there was no designated manager. pic.twitter.com/GuaO4cgWsL
– MEC Faith Mazibuko (@FaithMazibukoSA) October 24, 2020
One of the few sectors of the entertainment industry that has yet to receive the go-ahead to reopen after the harsh Covid-19 lockdown in South Africa is nightclubs as they are considered nonessential and violate curfew laws currently. current.
Nightclubs are very crowded and social distancing is not practical or easily achieved in such settings.
Police Minister Bheki Cele explains why #Black door nightclub in Sandton was raided by @SAPoliceService in the early hours of Sunday morning. The club owner will be charged with contravening the Disaster Management Act. pic.twitter.com/WQafjYOYCI
– LirandzuTemba (@LirandzuThemba) October 24, 2020
Closure of Blackdoor Lifestyle Lounge.
Compliance is not negotiable !!!#SaferJoburg #WeServeJoburg @CityJoburgZA @CoJPublicSafety @FeMazibukoSA @GeoffMakhubo @MMCMallyMokoena @SAPoliceService pic.twitter.com/74DDHzLogZ– Jo’burg Metro Police Department – JMPD (@JoburgMPD) October 24, 2020
Establishments such as nightclubs create potentially dangerous environments, which experts call “super-spreaders.” This is when many people congregate in a small space and the chances of one or more people becoming infected with Covid-19 significantly increase.
“By law, clubs are not open. Our information was correct, we came here, they call this place Blackdoor. “
Alcohol seizure at Blackdoor Lifestyle Lounge.#SaferJoburg #WeServeJoburg @CityJoburgZA @CoJPublicSafety @FeMazibukoSA @GeoffMakhubo @MMCMallyMokoena @SAPoliceService pic.twitter.com/c4FEWqsO56
– Jo’burg Metro Police Department – JMPD (@JoburgMPD) October 25, 2020
“There were almost 300 people, packed up, without masks, without social distancing, breaking the law, and with the threat of the second wave, we will not survive with these clubs.
“But in addition to breaking Covid law, people are breaking royal law to be here after curfew, they are still packaged here.”
Cele alluded to the fact that Blackdoor is not the only nightclub operating secretly in Johannesburg and said “this is not the only one, there is another.
According to Police Ministry spokesman Lirandzu Themba, the owner of Blackdoor will be charged with violating the Disaster Management Act.
The Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, recently extended the Disaster Management Law for one more month, until November 15.
Dlamini-Zuma said this was due to “the need to continue to augment existing legislation and contingency arrangements undertaken by state bodies to address the impact of the disaster.”
A second wave of Covid-19 is currently spreading across Europe, with new calls for economic closings and curfews.
In South Africa, experts warned that there is a high probability of a second increase in Covid-19 infections.
The Western Cape is already preparing for a second wave, and Prime Minister Alan Winde said during a digital press conference that “we wanted our peak to look like Table Mountain.”
So far, attempts to reach Blackdoor have been unsuccessful. Updates to follow as more information is received.
For more news your way, download The Citizen app to iOS Y Android.
[ad_2]
