Screengrab of Twitter video of Illegal beachgoers at Umdloti fleeing from Durban metro police, 2 August 2020.
The eThekwini Municipality has called on the public to stay away from beaches.
The City’s appeal comes after a large illegal gathering of people had to be dispersed over the weekend.
“Just because we are on Level 3 does not mean we must disregard the regulation.
“The beaches remain closed and the public must be mindful of the fact that they have to comply with regulations for their safety and not for government,” eThekwini municipality spokesperson Msawakhe Masiyela said on Monday.
He did not say if there had been any arrests.
A video of beachgoers at the upmarket Umdloti Beach, north of Durban, went viral on Monday, showing people fleeing the City’s law enforcement officers.
“It must not be perceived or viewed by the public that this is an attempt by government or the City to frustrate them. I think everybody is fully aware of the havoc of Covid-19,” Masiyela said of the incident.
He urged the public to continue to abide by regulations.
“Government will not win alone, but it requires that people themselves play a meaningful role in assisting government and the City in flattening the curve of the spread.
“We must also be mindful of the fact that eThekwini is a hotspot in KZN and we must not take that for granted.”
Masiyela added: “We are just appealing to the public to be responsible.
“If we continue with this behaviour, we are not going to turn the tide of the coronavirus.
“It’s simple, respect regulations, be mindful that we are under lockdown.”
For more news your way, download The Citizen’s app for iOS and Android.
Download our app and read this and other great stories on the move. Available for Android and iOS.
