Bheki Cele claims 7 000 arrested for not wearing face masks
- Police Minister Bheki Cele announced that over 7 000 people have been arrested for not wearing masks in public
- The minister also revealed that from the 20 000 people arrested over the festive season, alcohol sales and masks were the biggest offences
- Cele cautioned South Africans to adhere to the law and lockdown regulations
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Police Minister, Bheki Cele, has revealed that over 7 000 people have been arrested for not wearing face masks in public and they now have criminal records.
Speaking in an interview on eNCA, the minister further explained that the police have arrested 20 116 people between 29 December and 11 January.
Most of the offences were from consuming or trading alcohol and not wearing masks. The minister stressed the importance of adhering to level 3 lockdown regulations.
Source: Getty Images
Since the beginning of the lockdown at the end of March last year, the police have arrested a over 342 000 people.
Meanwhile, Briefly.co.za previously reported that Police Minister Bheki Cele has given SA a clear warning: Comply with lockdown regulations or go to jail. The politician is currently visiting towns along the west coast to ensure compliance with Covid-19 restrictions.
eNCA reports that community leaders have complained about a lack of visible policing, with many residents reportedly thwarting regulations.
A World Health Organisation mission to China to determine the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic is seemingly over before it even began.
The expert team has been denied entry into the country, with WHO head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus signalling his immense disappointment with the situation: "Today, we learned that Chinese officials have not yet finalised the necessary permissions for the team's arrivals in China."
The mission is aimed at determining the origin of the virus including how it could transmit from animals to humans. However, it seems that Beijing is determined to stall investigations, resisting pressure for an independent probe of the outbreak
In other news, Zweli Mkhize is being dragged to court by lobby group AfriForum and Solidarity over the decision to centralise the procurement of Covid-19 vaccines from global pharmaceutical companies.
The groups have expressed their mistrust of the South African government. They would prefer to source vaccines as private entities.
Earlier this month, Mkhize announced that government was in discussion with a few manufacturers of Covid-19 vaccines around the world.
This was in a bid to ensure that at least 67% of the population got vaccinated.:
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Source: Briefly News
