“The toll of the Covid-19 pandemic is already staggering. You can do your part in helping turn the tide of this pandemic by adhering to the Disaster Management Regulations under Alert level 3. If you fail to do so, we will arrest you,” is the message from Capt Eddie Hall local police spokesperson.

Capt Hall made this statement after the Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Mondli Zuma, has sent a strong warning to residents who disregard the lockdown regulations.

The general issued a strict warning after the arrests of more than 85 people throughout the province.

They were arrested by the law enforcement agencies for allegedly contravening the Disaster Management Regulations under Alert level 3.

After the President of the Republic of South Africa, Honorable Cyril Ramaphosa announced that the country is being placed on Alert level 3, residents were expected, encouraged, and urged to strictly follow the regulations to stop the spread of the Covid-19 virus.

The police and other law-enforcement agencies have been mandated to enforce the law, ensuring that everybody adheres to the regulations and failure to do so, may warrant an arrest.

The police in Mpumalanga, working together with other members of the security cluster has been hard at work since the announcement by the president and about 18 people were arrested for failing to wear their masks in a public place, whilst 35 were arrested for failure to be confined to their places of residence between 21:00 and 06:00.

Meanwhile, two people were arrested for selling/transporting liquor under the Disaster Management Act Alert level three.

Thirty-one additional people were arrested for failing to wear masks at public places and also failing to confine to their places of residence during the curfew hours.

The arrested individuals were issued with hefty fines and the public should expect more arrests on those who decide to be on the wrong side of the law.