Minister of Police General Bheki Cele addressed the concerns of the Portfolio Committee on Police, and the Select Committee on Security and Justice during a virtual meeting this afternoon.
Also read: Covid-19: Cele, SAPS leaders must give answers to reports of abuse of power by police
The meeting was set to provide members of the committees with an update from the Ministry of Police and the senior leadership of both the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the Independent Police Investigative
Directorate (IPID) on the enforcement of the State of National Disaster Regulations, as declared by President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Instead the portion of the agenda featuring IPID was rescheduled to next week.
Also read: Cele reminds South Africans that no one is above the law after police arrest congregants
It is at this meeting that Cele and SAPS leaders are expected to answer on reports of abuse of power by security forces.
The meeting follows a commitment by the chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police to call a joint meeting aimed at considering various issues around the lockdown, which have been concerning.
Answering questions posed by members of the committee, Cele said the issue of an alcohol ban at level 4 was a health-related one and not a crime-related one.
He added that the non-availability of alcohol has reduced crime, as well as the number of accidents on the roads which has “opened the hospitals to do what they need to do”.
Also read: Cele talks crime decreases and arrest of security forces
The minister said that should alcohol sales be allowed at level 4 lockdown, it would defeat the progress already made in the fight against Covid-19.
He also answered questions in regard to the arrest of worshippers at various Muslim prayer gatherings.
Over the weekend 41 congregants were arrested at two separate gatherings in Mpumalanga and Pretoria.
Also read: Six arrested police officers from Pretoria released on bail
The minister was asked about police officers wearing shoes in a place of worship, to which he responded that the officers were responding to a crime scene not a place of worship.
He said those arrested were breaking the law.
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