DURBAN: The KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has expressed his concern that a large number of citizens in the province have been arrested on a daily basis for not conforming with the adjusted alert Level 3 Lockdown regulations despite pleas from government and the health sector for compliance. “Since the announcement of the latest Level 3 Lockdown regulations, we have stepped up our daily operations focused on ensuring that all the citizens in the province comply with the regulations to stem the spread of the COVID-19 virus. In light of the President’s announcement last night that the country has moved to an adjusted alert Level 4 Lockdown, we are once again urging citizens to comply with the regulations as law enforcement officers continue to work around the clock with all other government departments to protect communities from being exposed to the COVID-19 virus,” he said.

Co-ordinated multi-disciplinary operations are being conducted simultaneously across the province focussing on hotspot areas and those areas were reports of non-compliance are received. Because of operations carried out from 16 June 2021 until 27 June 2021, 1763 individuals were arrested for various contraventions of the Level 3 lockdown regulations in the province. Police arrested 1025 persons in various public spaces for not wearing a mask. During this period, 592 people were arrested to failing to confine to their residence during the curfew while 137 were arrested for selling or consuming liquor in a public space, which is in contravention of the regulations.

We appeal to anyone with information with regards to contraventions of the adjusted alert Level 4 Lockdown regulations to please contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or report contraventions anonymously via the MySAPS App.

Source: South African Police Service