Police arrest 2 at illegal soccer match outside Tzaneen
The tournament organisers and one spectator were arrested, and a police vehicle damaged in the incident.
LIMPOPO – The police have once again warned communities in the province that they will act against anyone who organises, attends or participates in soccer tournaments, as it is still prohibited under the Disaster Management Act. This follows the arrest of two people and the damaging of a state vehicle at during two separate incident outside Tzaneen over the weekend.
https://www.citizen.co.za/review-online/434934/govt-warns-no-soccer-yet-its-still-lockdown/
Police Spokesperson, Brig Motlafela Mojapelo in a statement said that the police received information about a soccer tournament held at Tlhabine village under the Maake policing area on Sunday, 28 June, and went to investigate. “On the members arrival at the location, most players and spectators scattered in different directions. A few, however, ran towards the police, hurling stones at them, which resulted in a state vehicle being damaged.”
Mojapelo added that no members were injured. A case of malicious damage to property has been opened and police investigations still continue.
In a second incident that occurred on the same day, the police arrested two people – an organiser (58) and a soccer player (26) at Mohlabaneng village under Bolobedu policing area. Both were arrested for organising a soccer tournament and paid fines. Mojapelo said the organiser paid a R5 000 admission of guilt fine and the player paid R1 000.
The Acting Provincial Police Commissioner, Maj General Jan Scheepers warned the public to stop organising and attending soccer tournaments, whether as players or spectators, as this is still prohibited under the Disaster Management Act. He concluded that the police will act against anyone caught organising soccer tournaments and this will include arrest.
