Residents failing to comply with Disaster Management Act face heavy fine

If a person is caught moving around without a permit or a valid reason during the national lockdown, they will be fined or arrested under the Disaster Management Act.

This according to Norwood police spokesperson Sergeant Eric Masotsha who said they have already arrested 15 people for contravening the Act.

“During this time, people are expected to be indoors and if they need to go somewhere else, they will need to be in a possession of a permit or a medical note specifying their reasons for them to be moving around,” he added.

“People are only allowed to travel to the nearby shops to buy necessities within their precinct and not outside their areas like in instances of travelling to town.”

He said jogging for exercise was also prohibited. “This is because they have failed to comply with the law set by government during this lockdown which clearly stipulates ‘failure to confine oneself to your place of residence’, and a R1 500 fine will be issued for first-time offenders.

“If you are caught for the second time, it means there will be no admission of guilt and you will immediately be arrested.”

Masotsha added that these measures were not meant to harass people but it was aimed at protecting people and as a means to curb the spread of the coronavirus in communities.

National police spokesperson Brigadier Vishnu Naidoo said, “It’s not all cases where people will be fined R1 500 but it depends on the circumstances and the seriousness of it. Others will be issued G-543 forms and others will be immediately arrested depending on the seriousness of the matter.”

Patients with chronic illnesses who are travelling to see a doctor were urged to always have proof of appointments on their person.

Details: Norwood police 011 483 4600.

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