Fines you can receive during the 21-day lockdown

During the 21-day lockdown period, police officers are patrolling the streets day and night to make sure people are not breaking the regulations that have been put in place.

The following admission of guilt fines are determined in terms of section 57(5) of the Criminal Procedure Act, 1977 (Act No. 51 of 1977) for the Magisterial District of Klip River and are effective immediately. These admission of guilt fines are exclusively valid during the lockdown period from March 27, 2020, until April 16, 2020, issued under section 27(2) of the Disaster Management Act, No. 57 of 2002.

Here are the admission of guilt fines you can receive:

• Failure to comply with a national lockdown to stay at place of residence – Admission of Guilt (AG) fine R1500.
• Holding a gathering other than a funeral or holding a funeral with more than 50 people in attendance or a night vigil – R3000
• A business failing to cease operations during the lockdown other than for essential goods or services. First offender R5000, second offender No AG (to court).
• Retail shop not closed during lockdown period, selling goods other than essential goods, or retail store selling goods other than essential goods. First offender R5000, second offender No AG (to court).
• Failure to present permit to perform essential services when so required / making misrepresentation that a person is duly authorised to perform essential services – R2000.

Also read: Firefighters battle Covid by disinfecting taxi ranks in Ladysmith

• Hinder / interfere with a member of the SAPS, SANDF or a Peace Officer in execution of his / her duties under the Disaster Management Act. First offender R5000-00, second offender No AG (to court).
• Person misrepresenting that he / she or another is infected with Covid-19. First offender R5000, second offender No AG (to court).
• Publishing any statement to deceive any other person about Covid-19. First offender R5000, second offender No AG (to court).
• Publishing any statement to deceive any other person about the Covid-19 infection status of any other person. First offender R5000, second offender No AG (to court).
• Publishing any statement to deceive any other person about measures taken by the government. First offender R5000.
• Driver loading more than 50% of licensed capacity of vehicle – R1500.

Notice: Coronavirus reporting at Caxton Local Media aims to combat fake news. Dear reader,
As your local news provider, we have the duty of keeping you factually informed on Covid-19 developments. As you may have noticed, mis- and disinformation (also known as “fake news”) is circulating online. Caxton Local Media is determined to filter through the masses of information doing the rounds and to separate truth from untruth in order to keep you adequately informed. Local newsrooms follow a strict pre-publication fact-checking protocol. A national task team has been established to assist in bringing you credible news reports on Covid-19.
Readers with any comments or queries may contact National Group Editor Irma Green (irma@caxton.co.za) or Legal Adviser Helene Eloff (helene@caxton.co.za).

Click to receive news links via WhatsApp. Or for the latest news, visit our webpage or follow us on Facebook and Twitter. Join us there!