Elderly support harsher lockdown regulations
Concerns raised by Police Commissioner Brigadier Bheki Clele's about changing trends in crime, caused by the relaxation of lockdown regulations, have received support from unlikely quarters.
The elderly, many of them retired and pensioned citizens, have echoed their support for Cele’s push for the National Command Centre to implement strict Covid-19 regulation in a bid to fight the rampant crime rate and lawlessness in the townships.
They say they want the enforcement once again of Level 5 regulations, during which crime, violence, and lawlessness was reduced drastically in the two months between April and May.
The retired and the elderly also experienced positive health issues during this same period.
Many of them claimed;
They slept a lot better at night.
Many said they also experienced less crime and violence in their neighborhoods.
Their communities were more quiet and stable.
Fridays and the rest of the weekend were actually less noisy with a minimal movement of people· Even the local police openly admitted that incidents of crime and criminal activity had dropped sharply.
· Less homes were broken into and there were no incidents of vehicle thefts during this period.
· Incidents of alcohol-related crimes had dropped sharply. Cele is also opposed to the move from Level 3 to 2. He has argued that already the safety levels have been compromised with the rice of crime and violence in the country.
The elderly also argue that moving to Level 2, without keeping certain aspects of the lockdown regulations in check, will only see an escalation in acts of crime, and the general situation in the townships will fall back to its old chaotic ways.
They hailed Cele for his ability to completely eradicate crime and violence overnight in their respective neighbourhoods during the prolonged lockdown between April and May.
Many of them said they will continue to root for Cele in a bid to help him reverse the current lockdown rules back to what they were before Level 3.
They said the relaxing of the movement of people and the opening of alcohol outlets under Level 3 were some of the vital mistakes they hope the National Command Centre will rectify.
Do they also acknowledge that at times the army and police members were too heavy-handed in their treatment of the public?
“Our wish is to see justice done for the families of those who died at the hands of the police and the army,” said an 82-year pensioner fromKatlehong.
