South Africa: Today’s latest news and headlines, Tuesday 14 April

If you need to stay informed with all the latest news in South Africa, you’ve come to the right place. Check out all the major headlines on Tuesday 14 April.

As pressure mounts on government to repeal the ban on alcohol and tobacco sales, allegations of police brutality mar the lockdown’s sense of social unity. The official opposition, the Democratic Alliance (DA), proposes an alternative tiered-lockdown system intended to lessen the fierce economic blow.

Today’s latest news in South Africa, Tuesday 14 April

Government’s lockdown liquor ban likely to end up in court

Government is likely to end up in court if it continues to uphold a lockdown ban on the sale of alcohol. This is according to the Gauteng Liquor Forum, which represents 20 000 small businesses in the province.

The forum, which, together with other organisations, has demanded that President Cyril Ramaphosa lift the prohibition, says that if it doesn’t receive an answer by Thursday, it will approach the Constitutional Court. Commenting on the ban’s impact on its members, the forum said:

“The extension of the lockdown period to 30 April 2020 will most likely ruin their businesses. They do not have other means of surviving while the lockdown continues.”

The controversial ban has led to incidents of bottle stores being looted and police officers colluding with illicit liquor dealers. Police Minister Bheki Cele, who has been vehemently opposed to the sale of alcohol, has said that recent incidents of corruption within the South African Police Service (SAPS) are deeply worrying.

Allegations of SAPS and SANDF brutality being investigated

Police officers and soldiers, tasked with enforcing stringent lockdown regulations in accordance with the Disaster Management Act, have come under fire for alleged brutality and abuse of power.

This comes after an Alexandra resident was allegedly beaten to death by SANDF soldiers during a raid on illicit liquor outlets. It’s reported that the resident was found to be in possession of beer in the confines of his own home.

In addition to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) looking into several reports of police brutality, the Defence Force said it was cooperating with investigations into the Alexandra incident, adding:

“The SANDF reiterates that its members are expected to act within the confines of the law during this difficult period as they enforce the lockdown regulations and help save lives in support of the police. Any action outside the law will not be condoned.”

Lifeline for victims of GBV in the works

President Ramaphosa has noted, with disdain, the spike in Gender-Based Violence (GBV) incidents since the start of the lockdown. As a result of the lockdown, women, who have previously been able to escape the abuse of their partners, even if temporarily, have been forced into close proximity with their attackers.

Because of this, government is exploring options, within the context of the coronavirus-induced lockdown, which will assist victims, or potential victims, of GBV. Ramaphosa said:

“To this effect the Interim Steering Committee on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide, in consultation with civil society organisations, is developing guidelines and protocols for GBV management in the context of COVID-19.

During the lockdown, 148 suspects have been arrested for gender-based violence related crimes.”

Government backtracks on informal settlement movement

Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation Minister Lindiwe Sisulu says that reports of mass evictions and displacement during the lockdown are misleading. This comes after reports linked Sisulu to an alleged plot to ‘de-densify’ overpopulated areas where residents live in close proximity to one another.

Sisulu said that there was no plan to move settlements en masse but didn’t deny that there was a strategy being developed to create better social distancing models, arguing:

“I have been very clear and consistent. I’m working with NGOs that are close to the informal settlements to guide government on what needs to be done about the vulnerability of people in extremely densely populated informal settlements.”

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