KZN golfers arrested for flouting lockdown regulations for a round

The South African Police Service have announced the arrest of six Newcastle residents caught playing golf on Saturday 25 April.

Golfers arrested for lockdown breach

Umesh Karsan, Ronnell Singh, Pradeep Singh, Vinod Karsan, Sanjay Singh and Shaun Pillay were caught on the Newcastle Golf Club course and detained until they appeared in court.

On Tuesday 28 April the six golfers arrested on the weekend were granted bail of R1500 each and will appear in court again on 27 July.

SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Vishnu Naidoo said all six were charged under the Disaster Management Act.

“Six people were arrested for playing golf in Newcastle, in northern KwaZulu-Natal, on Saturday during the national lockdown,” Brigadier Naidoo said in a statement issued to the press.

“Umesh Karsan, Ronnell Singh, Pradeep Singh, Vinod Karsan, Sanjay Singh and Shaun Pillay appeared in the Newcastle magistrate’s court on Tuesday.

“The Amajuba cluster task team was performing Covid-19 lockdown duties on 25 April from 06:00 to 18:00. The members were patrolling Barry Hertzog Park, Newcastle, when they noticed a group of people playing golf at the course,” Brigadier Naidoo would add.

“Six suspects were arrested and charged for failure by a person to be confined to a residence. The suspects appeared at the Newcastle magistrate’s court on 28 April [Tuesday] and were given bail.”

Lockdown exercise regulations

The six people arrested in Newcastle were apprehended before the relaxation of lockdown regulations allowed an exercise window.

Sporting activities like golf or tennis remain banned under level four of lockdown unless played at home on private facilities.

Under level four lockdown, South Africans are able to exercise outdoors within a 5km radius of their home.

Organised amateur sports have also been forced to cease activity during the lockdown.

The South Africa-based Sunshine Tour suspended all activities on 16 March 2020.

“This decision was taken by the Sunshine Tour Board of Directors and Players Committee, and stands in unity with the International Federation of PGA Tours and world golf’s decision to suspend its activities,” a tour statement at the time read.

“Our aim is to both safeguard our members and our loyal fans, and support the President’s call for all South Africans to present a united front in taking the prescribed action to prevent the further spread of this virus.

“As such the Sunshine Tour has instituted an immediate international and domestic air travel ban for all of our staff. The Sunshine Tour’s Head Office will be closed throughout this period, but all communication will carry on as per normal as staff will work remotely and in designated teams.”

All golf courses are closed during the national lockdown.