In Heidelberg, a 32-year-old shop assistant recently ran into the long arm of the law when he was busted for illegally selling cigarettes.
The arrest was made by members of Heidelberg SAPS on May 4 and the suspect was charged with contravention of the Disaster Management Act National Lockdown which prohibits any South African citizen to sell cigarettes during the national lockdown.
Police members were conducting routine crime prevention activities as well as enforcement of lockdown regulations when they received information about a shop that is selling cigarettes to the public.

Hundreds of people have also been arrested by SAPS Nigel over the past weeks and in Devon, a total of 23 people have been arrested in various Covid-19 operations since May 1.

According to Sgt Sbongile Ndlela (SAPS Devon Corporate Communications), suspects were arrested for different offences, which include the contravention of a protection order, house break-ins, theft, driving under the influence of alcohol, possession of copper and contravening the Disaster Management Act.
“The suspects are expected to appear in Nigel Magistrate’s Court over the course of the next few weeks and may face criminal charges and/or fines,” Sgt Ndlela said.
She added that a Covid-19 operation led by MEC Faith Mazibuko from the department of community safety, ward councillor Mashele Lukhele, SAPS and Gauteng Traffic contributed to the successful arrests.
“During the operations, we also issued residents and motorists with Covid-19 pamphlets and we checked the compliance of various tuck shops in the Impumelelo informal settlement,” Sgt Ndlela concluded.

SAPS Duduza has arrested a total of 35 people in terms of the Disaster Management Act since May 1 and also one suspect for house break-in, one for theft, one for assault, one for business burglary and three suspects for possession of drugs.

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