Pretoria man behind bars after he mocks coronavirus measures in viral video
Police in Pretoria have arrested a 23-year-old man on charges of not adhering to the regulations set out in the Disaster Management Act.
His arrest comes after videos showing two men travelling around Pretoria, with one of them swearing and mocking efforts to curb the Covid-19 virus, went viral.
According to national police spokesperson, Vishnu Naidoo the man also bragged about not complying with laws put in place to contain the virus.
"In one of the snippets, one man appears to be standing in front of a police station and continued swearing about the virus," says Naidoo.
"The matter was investigated and the suspect was traced and found inside a residential complex in the Lyttelton policing area. The suspect is likely to face charges of at least contravening Regulation 11B of the Disaster Management Act 2002.”
The man, who is currently in police custody, is expected to appear in the Pretoria Magistrates Court on Monday.
"The arrest of this suspect, as well as at least six other suspects who have been arrested for creating such videos and posting fake news, should be a reminder that the security forces enforcing the regulations to contain the Covid-19 virus have the capacity and capability to identify those responsible for such transgressions, however long it may take," warns Naidoo.
"People are urged to view the scourge of Covid-19 virus seriously. The regulations that are being enforced are not to punish people but to protect lives against this pandemic".
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