Police Minister, General Bheki Cele, joined by Deputy Minister Cassel Mathale, the National Commissioner of the SAPS, General Kehla Sitole, and Deputy National Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sandi Mfazi on Good Friday, 10 April 2020, descended on the Eastern Cape to round up the first leg of the ministerial visits to Provinces to assess enforcement and adherence to the lockdown regulations.
Also present were the Acting Executive Mayor of Chris Hani District Municipality, Councillor Sibongile Mbotshane and the Ngcobo Local Mayor, Councillor Siyabulela Zangqa.
Eastern Cape was the last of the nine Provinces to be visited by the Minister and his entourage since the lockdown. As in other Provinces, roadblocks, vehicle checkpoints, police visibility and patrols, COVID-19 screening points were in place and would remain until the end of the extended lockdown.
As the host, the Eastern Cape Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS, Lieutenant General Liziwe Ntshinga extended words of appreciation to the Minister and entourage, as well as to the representatives of government departments at both provincial and municipal level, including traditional leaders and members of the clergy. Lieutenant General Ntshinga assured Minister Cele that the Province would work hard to enhance and strengthen inter-governmental relations as the country unites against the scourge of the COVID-19.
Addressing the members on the operational parade at Ngcobo Municipality Testing Centre, the National Commissioner of the South African Police Service, General Kehla Sitole commended the integrated deployment from the SAPS, SANDF and other law enforcement agencies for their commitment and selflessness that have contributed to the decrease in crime in the country at this critical period of the COVID-19 global pandemic.
Meanwhile, in his keynote address, Minister Bheki Cele reminded the integrated forces of the key role they were playing in ensuring the safety and protection of the citizens of the Eastern Cape.
With the two week extension of the lockdown announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday evening, 9 April 2020, Minister Cele urged the members to “go out there and remind the people about the national lockdown. You are instructed to enforce the law and not to negotiate it. Ensure that people stay at home.”
Minister Cele also reminded the members that, “the Eastern Cape and Ngcobo are not immune to what is happening in other parts of the country nor in other countries. It is therefore important that we enforce the law and thereby slow down the spread of the coronavirus.”
Echoing the words of President Ramaphosa, the Minister of Police, General Bheki Cele urged the public to continue to obey the Lockdown Regulations and to work closely with the police, the army, metro police and other law enforcement officers. Failure to adhere to the regulations could lead to penalties as experienced by those who have found themselves on the wrong side of the law.
South Africa Today – South Africa News
