Police Minister Bheki Cele has warned that police will not hesitate to arrest people who break the curfew on New Year’s Eve.
On Monday President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that the curfew would be extended to start from 9 o’clock at night and end at 6 o’clock in the morning. The previous hours were from 10 o’clock at night to 4 o’clock in the morning.
The extension comes as the second wave of coronavirus infections sweep the country.
Addressing police officers in KwaMashu, northern KwaZulu-Natal, Cele said never before has there been such a serious situation that New Year’s Eve celebrations had to be cancelled. He has told police officers that the country is counting on them to enforce the law courteously, but firmly.
“One thing that we will be doing, the people who are breaking the curfew, make sure that you lock them in. We are allowed to lock them in. Usually, we will tell them to go home and accompany them home. This time we will give them home. We will give them our own home. I know prisons are full. We still have space.”
Police Minister urged police not to hesitate to arrest those breaking new regulations – including the 9pm curfew:
