According to Brigadier Vishnu Naidoo, the national police spokesperson, the bishop contacted the Ikageng police with a request to distribute food parcels. “He was referred to the disaster centre as the departments of health and social services are the leading departments when food is distributed,” he said.

Later, the bishop was seen handing out the food parcels in front of the Ikageng police station. He was asked to present a valid permit, but, according to Naidoo, he didn’t have one and was arrested. “The bishop was arrested for failure by a person to be confined to residence during lockdown (Disaster Management Act of 2020),” he stated.

The bishop was issued a fine of R3,000.

McMillan Dlutu, chief of staff in the mayor’s office, took to Facebook and strongly disapproved of how the bishop had handed out the food parcels. “The Bishop seemingly decided to completely disregard the lockdown regulations and began to distribute food parcels to those that he had gathered,” he stated.

He added that disaster management and social development were working together to ensure that those severely affected by the lockdown receive assistance. “The Local Command Council (which includes all relevant departments – health, SAPS, Social Development etc.) has tasked the J.B. Marks Disaster Management team to coordinate the receipt of food parcels from all NGOs, churches, businesses, individual residents etc., including the names and contact details of the intended beneficiaries,” he said.

Dlutu reminded people that it is crucial to adhere to the lockdown regulations as Covid-19 is a disease that can kill, and the movement of all South Africans is restricted.

“We need to do it together! We need to #StayHome and #SaveLives,” he stated on Facebook. According to William Maphosa, the municipal spokesperson, a church bishop approached the Disaster Management Centre last Thursday, 23 April and requested permission to distribute food parcels to a list of 150 people.

According to him, the process of food parcel donations and distribution was explained to the bishop.

“He continued with plans to hand over food parcels. Police intervened and questioned the organiser who produced an invalid permit that appeared to bear details of the Gauteng Department of Social Development. He also falsely told the police that he had engaged our Disaster Management Centre on the matter,” he said.

The municipality is glad the law took its course and urges the public to cooperate and work together with those committed to fighting the battle against Covid-19.

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Bishop arrested for distributing food parcels