Various local police stations in Johannesburg have confirmed that they have put strict measures in place to combat the spread of coronavirus, also known as COVID-19.
The outbreak has been declared a national disaster in terms of the Disaster Management Act by President Cyril Ramaphosa.
“Government is working closely with other public facilities such as Parliament, prisons, police stations and military installations to intensify hygiene control,” said Ramaphosa during his announcement at the Union Buildings.
Briefing the media in Pretoria as part of a government ministers’ panel making up the National Command Council, police minister Bheki Cele said police will continue doing their job as usual.
Cele warned that the state of national disaster, which limits human close contact, does not mean the police are taking a break from intensive law enforcement and combating crime. “If we arrest you, we can’t arrest you through email. You have to be there. It will happen. It doesn’t mean we can’t come close to you.
“…We want to ensure the safety of our members who are at the front desk.”
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In the local police precincts including Norwood, Johannesburg Central and Sandringham, police have confirmed procuring equipment such as anti-virus sanitiser sprays and masks to protect their members.
However, their spokespersons were barred from responding to media questions regarding the COVID-19 with all referring queries to the national police’s communications department.
Brigadier Vishnu Naidoo, SA’s national police spokesperson, confirmed that it is business as usual in all police precincts throughout the country.
Naidoo said since the outbreak of the COVID-19, police management has embarked on extensive and intensive internal awareness campaigns educating their members on the dos and don’ts related to the virus.
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“Management has also sent out a directive that all precincts throughout the country must procure equipment as well as consumables that will help prevent the spread of COVID-19. These will be for the use by our members and/or for the placement thereof for the use of visitors to these respective precincts.
“With regard to the handling of suspects, awaiting trial prisoners, etc, a standard operation procedure (SOP) has been designed together with our colleagues from correctional services for the use of our members.”
Details: Coronavirus Hotline Number: 0800 029 999.
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