Day 1 of lockdown on South Coast – many ignore restrictions
While many have stayed indoors, it seems there are still too many South Coasters paying scant regard to the lockdown.
Today (Friday) marks the first day of the 21-day ‘lockdown’ period as declared by president Cyril Ramaphosa last week Tuesday.
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The president ordered a lockdown with travel restrictions, urging people to stay at home in order to fight the spread of the Covid-19 corona virus in the country.
However, images of people ignoring the lockdown ban emerged a few hours of it being enforced.
This despite the fact that one person has died in the Western Cape due to the virus – initial reports stated two – while over a thousand remain infected.
The Herald received numerous complaints from community members in Izingolweni, Murchison and Gamalakhe stating that it was business as usual in their areas as people were out in their numbers.
Nosipho Mavundla from Izingolweni said some taxis were fully loaded with people ignoring various calls made against the practice while shops were also packed to the maximum.
“I understand that some people only got paid yesterday, so they decided to go to shops today but there are those roaming the streets doing nothing. I also have not seen the presence of the police here,” she said.
In Gamalakhe, there was a heavy police presence and traffic law enforcement officials, at the intersection going into the township.
Inside the township has been a different story as people were seen making their shopping while others were seen loitering around.
“People are ignorant, they are walking up and down as if nothing is happening. I don’t think people understand the repercussions of this,” said one Gamalakhe community member.
In Port Edward, members from the Saps conducted an operation and stopped all cars checking compliance.
No arrests had been recorded at this time.
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