Members of the police’s Crime Intelligence unit acted swiftly after reading about the incident on www.mobserver.co.za online.  Their investigations led them to a mine village outside of Middelburg.

According to information, police are currently underway to go and fetch the man. Information from a trusted source  said that the Department of Health has been contacted and that the man will be taken to the Middelburg Hospital for testing.

Questions about the man’s mental state have been raised during the investigation. The Department of Health will assist to assess his mental health upon his arrival. The man will also be tested for Covid-19 to determine whether his allegations were unfounded.

As a precautionary measure, Pick ‘n Pay has been closed earlier to be sanitized and the police officers who responded to the initial call from Middelburg Mall security have been taken off duty, the source said.

This after a Middelburg Mall security officer responded to a call from shop employees about a man who walked around claiming that he tested positive for Covid-19. The officer said that the man denied claims by members of the public that he told them he has Covid-19 when he was confronted. A member of the public took a video of his declaration at the time.

The security officer contacted the police for assistance. They earlier were forced to let the man go after no one was willing to give a statement to charge him.

The outcome of the man’s mental state, his tests as well as further developments will be reported on as soon as they are made available.