Churchgoers Allegedly Attack Police After Holding Large Gathering
- The Johannesburg Metro Police Department said a group of churchgoers in Soweto attacked them
- The JMPD responded to a noise complaint, which turned into a violent clash between them and churchgoers
- Several arrests were made, including the church pastor, as more than 2 000 people were present at the gathering
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The Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) in a statement said they were attacked by a group of 'aggressive' churchgoers. The JMPD claims they responded to a noise complaint in Soweto and were surrounded by a large group of male churchgoers.
The group allegedly 'thumped' onto the JMPD patrol vehicles, forcing officers to use pepper spray to disperse them before calling for backup. Rubber bullets were then used against the churchgoers who, according to the statement, had damaged vehicles and injured two officers.
Several members of the church, including the pastor, were arrested.
Source: Facebook
The JMPD added that two churchgoers were also injured and those arrested were charged with public violence, assault, malicious damage to property and contravention of the Disaster Management Act. There were reportedly over 2 000 people in attendance.
Police are trying their best, it seems, to clamp down on mass gatherings. Briefly.co.za previously reported on a clip that exposed how national lockdown Level 3 regulations were flaunted by partygoers in the East London venue.
Metro spokesperson Samkelo Ngwenya explained that management had admitted to contravening the rules. After paying the fine for exceeding the maximum number of permitted customers allowed in the venue, the management had been charged and released from custody.
Metro spokesperson Samkelo Ngwenya explained that management had admitted to contravening the rules. After paying the fine for exceeding the maximum amount of permitted customers allowed in the venue, the management had been charged and released from custody.
The local government demanded that licence regulators should take a 'tougher' stance against businesses that break the law, breaching their operating condition. With the current rules dictating that indoor gatherings may not exceed half of the venue's capacity, businesses are expected to enforce the relevant safety protocols to halt the spread of the virus.
The Metro urged businesses to 'put lives over profits' in reaction to what it slammed as a 'disturbing' incident' in a statement issued on the situation:
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Source: Briefly News
