Chatsworth Police have beefed up patrols and intensified monitoring of Covid-19 regulations under Alert Level 4 as the third wave of the deadly virus has resulted in a steep rise in infections across the country, with the highly contagious Delta variant now spread across six districts in KwaZulu-Natal.
KZN Police spokesperson, Brigadier Jay Naicker, said co-ordinated multi-disciplinary operations are being conducted simultaneously across the province where reports of non-compliance are received. The various operations around the community forms part of the province’s new battle plan to counter the rising Covid-19 infections after KZN Premier Sihle Zikalala announced plans to focus on hotspots and step-up patrols with law enforcement teams and operations. The Delta variant was detected in five of the provinces, including Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape . In KZN it has been detected in six of the 10 districts. Premier Sihle Zikalala said these were the Harry Gwala, e Thekwini, Zululand, King Cetshwayo, Ugu and Ilembe districts.
While law enforcement has been clamping down on Covid-19 offenders, many in the medical field and political commentators have expressed concern at the large gatherings that are taking place in Nkandla, following the Constitutional Court’s judgement that former President Jacob Zuma be jailed for 15 months for defying a summons by the State Capture Inquiry. The National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NatJOINTS) says it has enhanced operational capacity in KwaZulu-Natal amid blatant disregard for Covid-19 Adjusted Alert Level 4 regulations. According to a statement, NatJOINTS spokesperson Vishnu Naidoo said that this measure was in response to incidents where people were in contravention of Covid-19 regulations. He said: This was in response to incidents in which people are seen to be undermining the authority of the State, including the flouting of the Disaster Management Act Regulations.
During the deployment, SAPS commanders and members on the ground are provided clear and concise directives that respond to any and all situations and must be informed by proper analysis. To this end, every situation will be assessed and dealt with on its own merit, he said. Naidoo said: If we are to see a slowdown in the spread of the virus, all citizens of the country are urged to strictly adhere to the Disaster Management Act Regulations and failure to do so, including any person organising or being part of gatherings, will also result in people being fined or jailed or both. At the same time, the government s rollout of the Covid-19 vaccines gathered momentum this week when vaccinations for police personnel got off the ground. The vaccination rollout for members of the South African Police Services, which will see at least 180 000 officers and other staff getting the jabs, was launched on Monday in Soweto by Police Minister Bheki Cele, acting Health Minister Mmamoliroko Kubayi-Ngubane and Commissioner General Khehla Sithole.
Meanwhile vaccinations for the education sector is continuing and in some quarters the over 50s are already getting their jabs. However, the majority of over 50s will only start getting their vaccines from 15 July. Between 16 June and 27 June 1 763 individuals were arrested for various contraventions. Police arrested 1 025 people for not wearing a mask, 592 people were arrested for breaking the curfew, while 137 people were arrested for seeing or consuming liquor in a public space. Health authorities are urging the public to continue to wear a mask in public, regularly wash or sanitise their hands, keep a safe distance from others, unless it is necessary, remain at home. If you are sick and have even mild Covid-19 symptoms, you must isolate yourself, including from your immediate household. If you have been exposed to someone infected with Covid-19, you have to quarantine for 10 days. If you test positive, notify the people you have come into contact with so they can protect themselves and others.
