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Members of the South African National Defense Force. (Images by Ziyaad Douglas / Gallo)
- Soldiers have been tied up to help police keep bathers off the Garden Route beaches.
- Police Minister Bheki Cele says SANDF’s help is a welcome relief as a significant number of police officers have tested positive for Covid-19.
- Cele also warned liquor dealers not to sell alcohol against lockdown regulations.
Police Minister Bheki Cele has revealed that members of the South African National Defense Force (SANDF) have been tied up to help police keep beachgoers away from beaches along the Garden Route in the Western Cape. .
Cele was visiting Garden Route on Wednesday morning.
He said people are still visiting all 57 beaches in the region, making it difficult for police even though the beaches have been closed under current closure regulations.
“There were reports of non-compliance especially after the declaration that the beaches are no-go areas. I have to say that on the West Coast we found compliance much better, with the exception of Langebaan where people were still surfing and all that. It is unfortunate that we had to make some arrests there. “
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Cele said the suspects arrested for ignoring the lockdown regulations were European.
“I don’t know why they would do this here when they know that there is a shutdown in Europe. I’m sure it’s kind of an undermining of state authority here.”
Cele said she decided to visit the Garden Route after receiving information that people were not adhering to the beach ban.
The minister said he learned that bathers only comply when police and other law enforcement officers visit the beaches and return to the beaches when the police leave.
“For that reason, today we hope to be strengthened by the South African Defense Force to be here today to help members of the South African Police Service enforce regulations that say people should not be on beaches.”
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Cele said the presence of the SANDF members was a welcome relief, as many police officers were left out of action after testing positive for Covid-19.
“We have a fairly significant number of infected here, around 350 of them, but it is also necessary to isolate them even if they do not declare themselves ill, so we have another 800 isolates, so our numbers are very low (sic)”.
Cele said the unfortunate part of breaching lockdown regulations is that people will end up with a criminal record.
“We call on people to just comply. This is not something we like. It is because it is necessary and mandatory.”
READ ALSO | Closure: Beach ban hits coastal city economies as hotels and resorts lose big
Speaking to the media, Cele also warned liquor dealers who sell alcohol underground to desist.
“[The] An unfortunate part of this is that when we have it, your business license will be taken and you will not trade when you are allowed to return. “
Cele said it is painful that ordinary South Africans who are supposed to think for themselves need to be reminded by the police that Covid-19 was real.
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