Police Minister Bheki Cele has called on police to be strict in enforcing the wearing of masks in public.
This comes as the number of coronavirus cases continues to rise in a number of provinces.
Cele kicked off the annual Safer Festive Season Inspection Tour in the Western Cape on Thursday.
It is part of efforts to ensure the safety of residents and holidaymakers.
Cele has made it clear what police should do as part of efforts to curb the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
He says, “When you stop a taxi and the people don’t have masks, arrest the driver. When you go to supermarkets, when you go to malls, management there still have a responsibility to sanitise people at the entrance.”
[WEAR YOUR MASK‼️] #saferFestiveSeason operations continue in the WC, this time in Du Noon, where the Police Minister is conducting a walk about. He says while @SAPoliceService are here to maintain law and order, they will also ensure compliance of #LockdownLevelOne Regulations pic.twitter.com/1Kkl6gtfTe
— Lirandzu Themba (@LirandzuThemba) December 10, 2020
[NOW YOU KNOW] Multi-disciplinary road blocks like this one will be the order of the day this #SaferFestiveSeason in all corners of the country. #OperationTightGrip pic.twitter.com/qgc4YK0waD
— Lirandzu Themba (@LirandzuThemba) December 10, 2020
In July, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the compulsory wearing of masks: