Describing the coronavirus as an invisible target which is ‘dangerous, dangerous, dangerous’, Police Minister, Bheki Cele cautioned local law enforcement that while numbers were still low, officers are becoming infected with Covid-19.

During his visit to Newcastle yesterday, Cele urged officers to maintain a distance of at least a metre from each other, even when conducting roadblocks, and to ensure they used the mask, gloves and hand sanitiser which have been provided.

Watch below as Police Minister, Bheki Cele addresses law enforcers in Newcastle:

“We will order extra equipment, like aprons and overalls, for those people who are on crime scenes to make sure everybody is safe,” he assured.

That said, Cele urged law enforcers to take a firm stance against anybody who transgresses the rules of the lockdown.

“Your job is to arrest everybody who breaks the rules,” stated Cele. “It is not our first prize to arrest. Our first prize is to educate, but if people cross the line, we will still arrest them.”

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Nationally, 1 108 people were arrested by Monday evening (day three of the national lockdown).

Cele urged SAPS to take a firm stance against anyone caught buying, selling or transporting alcohol, saying, “We don’t negotiate with people we find in the shebeens. We don’t negotiate with the person who sells alcohol. Alcohol is not allowed to be transported from point A to point B.”

He concluded by expressing his appreciation for the good work local law enforcement is doing, and his hope that the lockdown will not have to be extended beyond 21 days.

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