CITIZENS trying to take the law into their own hands during the lockdown period in South Africa have been warned by police to stop interfering with the work of authorities who are mandated to enforce the regulations.
On Sunday, 5 April, as the country began its second week of the lockdown, the NatJOINTS called on communities and other organisations to heed the rules and stay out of the way of law enforcement agencies who are tasked with enforcing the Disaster Management Regulations.
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“The NatJOINTS, which comprises various government departments, is responsible for the coordination of the Covid-19 operations, including high density policing operations, border control, route security and public health infection containment,” said Brigadier Vishnu Naidoo, NatJOINTS spokesperson.
“So far, the greater majority of the nation has been very co-operative in adhering to the Disaster Management Regulations. However, the call for greater adherence to the regulations comes following the continuous non-adherence to these regulations by certain individuals,” said Naidoo.
There have been reports countrywide of taxi operators trying to stop motor vehicles from transporting essential service workers to work and he cited examples in the Eastern Cape.
“This practice must cease immediately as no one may take the law into their own hands,” he said.
“We call upon civilians to adhere to the regulations and not attempt to enforce the lockdown regulations on their own as citizens are required to remain in the confines of their own homes during this period; and by not doing so will themselves be breaking the law.”
“Essential service workers are risking their lives to ensure all people in South Africa continue to receive essential services as well as to ensure the coronavirus is contained.”
“SAPS members are not only involved with enforcement of the Disaster Management Regulations but they still continue to perform their constitutional obligations to ensure that all South Africans are and feel safe,” he explained.
“Security forces are involved in ensuring safe and conducive areas for the thousands of field workers who will conduct screening and testing for Covid-19 among our communities. Police officers are also deployed to assist in securing the identified quarantine and isolation sites.”
Unrest
Reports of looting and people storming food stores were shared widely on social media in the first week of the lockdown. Naidoo alluded to this in his statement too.
“In Mpumalanga as well as Gauteng during this past week, a group or people stormed a local supermarket and disrupted services demanding the store manager furnishes all employees with gloves and masks. By the time police arrived on the scene in Mpumalanga, the group had already left. However, one person was arrested for the incident in Gauteng,” he said.
Complaints
“The South African Police Service will continue to act on all complaints received as no one has a special provision to act in a manner that is contrary to the regulations governing the lockdown period. We urge all citizens of the republic to stay at home and to only go out when it is absolutely necessary such as getting essential supplies, seeking medical assistance and collecting social grants.”
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The NatJOINTS said those who have complaints or information relating to non-adherence of the Disaster Management Regulations must get in touch with law enforcement officials by contacting the SAPS Crime Stop number 086 00 10111 or submitting tip-offs anonymously on the MySAPSApp which is available for download on all androids or iPhones.
Caxton Local Media Covid-19 reporting
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