SAPS send a strong message to clout chasers breaking lockdown
The South African Police Service (SAPS) have sent a strong message to anyone foolish enough to post videos of themselves breaking the 21-day lockdown for social media clout.
Police have arrested a 23-year-old man from Lyttelton, Centurion, for allegedly contravening the 21-day national lockdown regulations.
Snippets of videos shared by the man on his own social media have since been widely shared. Many users were outraged by the behaviour of the two men shown in the videos, which include coarse language.
South African social media users notified the SAPS of the Lyttleton man’s videos boasting about breaking lockdown regulations and authorities soon brought him to book.
“Go to directly to jail, do not collect R200,” wrote one commentator on Twitter.
Watch the video shared with SAPS by concerned citizens
National SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Vishnu Naidoo said the matter was investigated and the suspect was traced to a residential complex in Lyttelton.
Naidoo also revealed that six further suspects had been arrested on suspicion of creating similar videos or spreading fake news on social media accounts.
A weekend in the slammer
As he was arrested over the weekend the man will spend the weekend in police custody before facing a magistrate on Monday 6 April 2020.
“The suspect is likely to face charges of at least contravening Regulation 11B of the Disaster Management Act 2002.
“He is currently in police custody and he is expected to appear in the Pretoria magistrate’s court tomorrow [Monday].
“The arrest of this suspect, as well as at least six other suspects who have been arrested for creating such videos and posting fake news, should be a reminder that the security forces enforcing the regulations to contain the Covid-19 virus have the capacity and capability to identify those responsible for such transgressions, however long it may take,” Naidoo said.
By Thursday 2 April joint operations between SAPS, the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and Metro authorities had seen 17,209 arrested for breaking lockdown regulations. That number is expected to rise dramatically over the weekend.
SAPS boss issues stern warning to all South Africans
Police Minister Bheki Cele said that SAPS and other members of the joint-operation would not hesitate to take action against those breaking lockdown.
“All the rules being addressed today must be adhered to. Don’t give us a reason to arrest you. We have no issues arresting people if we need to, so don’t give us a reason to,” Cele said in a briefing on Thursday.
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