Close to half a million charged for contravening lockdown regulations - Cele

Contraventions include failing to wear a mask in public, breaking curfew, inter-provincial travel, as well as the sale and transportation of alcohol. 

The country’s National State of Disaster has been in effect since March last year, with various restrictions on trade and the movement of people and goods.

Since then, the police force has been out in numbers to ensure South Africans err on the side of caution.

Cele told media on Tuesday that at least 7000 of these arrests happened less than a month ago.

“Since the 27th of March 2020, unfortunately 465 098 people have been charged with contravention of the Disaster Management Act and you must remember that from now on, all these people that will be charged, they will be having criminal records.

“Police will continue to monitor compliance through targeted operations which should be intensified through hotspot provinces,” Cele warned.

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On Sunday, President Cyril Ramaphosa moved the country to level 4 in a bid to respond to the growing infections.

Under the stricter regulations, government has again banned the sale of alcohol, restricted movement in and out Gauteng to business and commercial purposes, prohibited gatherings and limited funeral attendance to 50 mourners.

Schools will close on Wednesday, more than a week earlier than planned. 

Cele has called on South Africans to heed government’s call to adhere to the adjusted regulations.

“We all know the pain and destruction that Covid-19 continues to cause for us as a nation and I’m confident there will be more compliance to the regulations set out to save lives than before,” he added.

“Those who chose to drop the ball and chose to transgress, they must know that police will be left with no choice but to act.”

Watch Cele below: