Lockdown in SA: Cape Town organiser fined for ‘illegal event’

The City of Cape Town has vowed to continue clamping down on lawlessness, including crimes committed during the lockdown. Despite the regulations having been eased under Level 1, the authorities have their hands full attending to instances of the current regulations being violated. Authorities pounced on an ‘illegal event’ which was taking place at a school in Cape Town’s CBD on Thursday, 4 March 2021, and the organiser was slapped with a R4 000 fine.

Several lockdown-related laws were breached. According to the city, approximately 300 people were in attendance and the organiser of the event did not have the necessary permit to host. They also sold liquor without the required licence and flouted noise pollution regulations.

The event was held in the school’s unused swimming pool that had been converted into a skate park.  The city further claimed there were no health protocols which were followed, which means those in attendance placed themselves at risk of contracting COVID-19.

 “While the City supports the return of events and will continue to play its role as an enabler, it is important that gatherings are hosted in a safe environment that is in accordance with the law. Illegal events endanger the lives of patrons as a result of the lack of security and crowd management, to name but a few,” the city said.

“Unregulated events during a pandemic are a major health risk that could become super spreaders of COVID-19”

Under Level 1 of the lockdown, social gatherings are allowed however with restrictions – a maximum of 100 people for indoor facilities and 250 attendees for outdoor gatherings.

City of Cape Town concerned over harder lockdown

The City of Cape Town has also expressed concern over the violation of lockdown regulations and emphasised that such could lead to the country being reverted to a harder lockdown level. It said that illegal events endanger the lives of patrons as a result of the lack of security and crowd management.

“Unregulated events during a pandemic are a major health risk that could become super spreaders of COVID-19,” it added.

“This poses a major risk for the Events industry’s recovery if we allow unregulated events to trigger more national government restrictions on gatherings”

The City of Cape Town has reminded organisers that its office is willing and able to offer support to those who want to host events that are within the confines of the current lockdown regulations.