The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Gauteng, Lieutenant General Elias Mawela, has on behalf of the Provincial Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (PROVJOINTS) on which the Liquor Board is represented, extended his appreciation to law-abiding citizens who continue to voluntarily be the ears and eyes of the police in relation to acts of lawlessness and disregard for the Disaster Management Act, COVID-19 Lockdown Regulations.
This comes as police in Alexandra on Monday evening, 28 December 2020 at around 23h00, returned to a popular hang-out spot and arrested the owner for operating and selling liquor after the regulated curfew. The place was packed with no regard or measures in place for COVID-19 health protocols.
About five hours prior to this arrest at around 18h00, police had conducted a compliance inspection at the same hang-out spot, and the manager who happens to be the owner’s sibling was arrested for non-compliance with the provisions of the Gauteng Liquor Act 02 of 2003, for which he opted to pay an admission of guilt fine.
Meanwhile, on the same day in Mamelodi, police in the evening dispersed patrons at a tavern and arrested the owner for contravention of the Disaster Management Act. This arrest comes after the Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Mawela ordered an urgent investigation into a video clip that was circulating on social media, depicting a large crowd drinking and dancing with no regard for any of the COVID-19 health protocols. Ironically on the same video clip, the President’s Address announcing the move to an adjusted Level 3 from Level 1 of the Lockdown, is playing on a big screen in the background.
In Orlando East, police responded to a complaint from a member of the community and on arrival just before 23h00 found a gathering of over 300 people inside the premises. The owner was issued with a warning, the place was shut down and the crowd dispersed.
Lieutenant General Mawela has assured the public that police together with other law enforcement agencies in Gauteng, will be out in full force not only to continue with the safer festive season operations in anticipation of the New Year’s Eve cross-over festivities but to also enforce the lockdown regulations and ensure adherence to the COVID-19 health protocols, in support of government’s response and attempts at minimising the risk of what has come to be defined as super-spreaders events.
“Our communities are reminded of the valuable role they can play in the fight against crime in general, and more importantly, in support of government’s efforts to ensure the safety of everyone against the second wave of the coronavirus whose impact is said to be far worse than the first outbreak earlier in the year,” General Mawela said, pleading for maximum adherence and cooperation from the public.
The Provincial Commissioner has also expressed well wishes to all members of law enforcement agencies who will be on deployment during this period of the adjusted Level 3 lockdown, reminding the members to stay safe during the execution of their duties which should be done within the confines of the law.