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Twelve police officers, including a reservist, have been arrested for allegedly violating the National Disaster Management Regulations, as well as for corruption.

“The arrest of our own is both disheartening and at the same time, pleasing, in a sense that it shows that the South African Police Service (SAPS) remains unbiased, as well as that it has the capacity and the capability to decisively deal with criminality within its ranks,” National Commissioner of the SAPS, General Khehla Sitole, said on Monday.

The 12 were arrested in three separate incidents at the weekend.

In the first incident, five members, including a police reservist attached to the Namahadi Police Station in Phuthaditjhaba in the Free State, were arrested for allegedly drinking alcohol at a local tavern.

They managed to evade arrest on Saturday. However, they were later arrested on Sunday when they reported for duty.

A 44-year-old tavern owner was also arrested on the same day for violating the regulations on the prohibition of the sale of liquor.

“All liquor was seized and the tavern shut down. The police officials will be charged with defeating the ends of justice and failing to enforce and adhere to the National Disaster Management Regulations,” the SAPS said.

In the second incident, six members attached to the Brooklyn and Silverton Police Stations in Pretoria were arrested on Saturday for allegedly stealing more than R30 000 from a group of people passing through a road block.

According to reports, members initially demanded a bribe of R100, after realising that the driver of a sedan and two passengers were not in possession of the required documentation. The money was allegedly stolen after the sedan was searched at the said road block.

All six were arrested after they were found in possession of the money and they are currently being detained at a local police station.

In the third incident, a member was detained after he held a gathering at the police barracks in Soshanguve.

“While all members face criminal charges, internal departmental processes within the Service will follow.

“Fighting corruption and restoring the integrity of the Service remains a top priority for police management. The arrest of our own will send a stern warning to all men and women in blue, as well as all law enforcement agencies, to steer clear of criminality and corruption at all times,” said the SAPS.

The arrests of the police officers, said the SAPS, is indicative of its commitment to the fight against corruption.

Employment and Labour Minister Thulas Nxesi is today conducting a walkabout at the Johannesburg office of the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) that is handling a massive number of claims related to COVID-19.

The Minister’s visit to the centre on Monday, comes as the country marks day 25 of the nationwide lockdown aimed at curbing the spread of the virus.

In an effort to provide income support to workers who have been temporarily or permanently, sent home due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the UIF has launched the COVID-19 temporary employee relief scheme (Ters).

The scheme provides funds to distressed companies unable to pay the full salaries of workers who are permanently laid off or sent home, temporarily due to COVID-19 and the lockdown.

So far, about R30-billion has been set aside for this.

“The coronavirus pandemic has quickly evolved from a health care crisis to a financial one, closing non-essential businesses, leading to job losses, and sending economies to recession worldwide. Many South Africans are filing for unemployment insurance fund and compensation fund,” said the Ministry of Employment and Labour.

The UIF Call Centre has been experiencing system failures due to the influx of calls, by laid-off workers and employers in distress.

Working with Harambee the UIF Call Centre has now been expanded, and new recruits have been brought on board to handle as many calls for claims as possible.

“The current Call Centre telephone system can handle one hundred calls, and due to large volumes of calls, the lines are often busy resulting in calls unable to go through. The UIF is beefing up its telephone system to handle a minimum of 350 calls,” said the Ministry.

South Africa has confirmed a total of 3 158 COVID-19 cases, having conducted 114 711 tests to date.

Gauteng is still leading with 1 148 people testing positive for the virus, followed by the Western Cape at 868 cases.

KwaZulu-Natal has 617 cases of COVID-19, the Eastern Cape province has 293 cases, Free State has 100 cases, Limpopo has 27 cases, the North West has 24 cases, Mpumalanga has 23 cases and the Northern Cape has 16 cases. There are 42 unallocated cases.

“Today we regrettably report two new COVID-19 related deaths. Similar to yesterday [Saturday], these are from KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape. This bring the total death toll to 54 today.

“We convey our condolences to the families and also appreciate the committed health workers who were treating the deceased patients,” Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, said on Sunday.

As the taxi industry counts the costs of the COVID-19 pandemic, intergovernmental consultations on a Taxi Industry Relief intervention are at an advanced stage.

This was confirmed by Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula during a virtual meeting with the National Taxi Alliance (NTA) on Sunday.

“The Departments of Transport, Small Business, Labour, Trade and Competition as well as the National Treasury have agreed to support the industry and are currently looking at various modalities of assistance,” the Transport Ministry in a statement said.

The meeting was to discuss the effects the COVID-19 national lockdown regulations and directions were having on the sector.

During the lockdown period, taxis were permitted to ferry a maximum of 70% per load. Regulations stipulate that public transport was to operate between 5am and 10am and again resume operations from 4pm until 8pm.

The Ministry said the Minister during the meeting noted the grievance of the taxi industry. These ranged from alleged heavy-handedness of law enforcement and illegal profiteering by trucks and other vehicles ferrying passengers.

“Minister Mbalula also raised concerns about reports of taxi fare increments of up to 100 percent in some parts of the country, insufficient sanitisation as well as sporadic incidents of overloading and breaching of travel times,” read the statement.

Mbalula, however, acknowledged that the infringements were in the minority and that by large, the sector has complied with the directions on carrying capacity, operating times and the se of personal protective equipment.

Today’s discussions also extended to broader issues such as the formalization and subsidization of the taxi industry as well as the National Taxi Indaba scheduled to take place later this year.

KwaZulu-Natal Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs MEC, Nomusa Dube-Ncube, has commended law enforcement officers for the arrest of a suspect involved in the manufacturing and selling of counterfeit liquor during the COVID-19 lockdown.

The 50-year-old suspect was caught red-handed at Illovu township, South of Durban, refilling Smirnoff 1818 bottles during an intensive operation.

Among the products recovered were 196 x 750ml empty bottles of Smirnoff 1818, 100 litres of Ethanol; a black bag full of Smirnoff 1818 closures as well as 4. 5 x 750ml refilled bottles of Smirnoff 1818.

The suspect was charged for Contravening Disaster Management Act, manufacturing and selling counterfeit alcohol and selling counterfeit liquor during lockdown.

In welcoming the arrest, Dube-Ncube warned that South Africa is founded on the supremacy of the Constitution and the rule of law.

“Our laws should apply to all, not some. Businesses too must meet their legal obligation. Obtaining a business license and paying your taxes is part of business compliance,” Dube-Ncube said.

Dube-Ncube added that as the department, they remain committed to sustaining a collaborative approach to ensure the compliance of relevant laws.

“Failure by anyone to adhere to these will result in the prosecution without fear or favour,” the MEC said.

Liquor industry commended

Meanwhile, Dube-Ncube commended stakeholders in the liquor industry who have contacted her expressing their firm commitments to adhering to the lockdown regulations.

“I appreciate the fact that they understand that the regulations are aimed at containing the spread of the virus [COVID-19]. In particular, it is comforting to know that they have joined hands with government in intensifying efforts aimed ensuring the full recovery of our economy, post COVID–19.

“We acknowledge the fact that the liquor industry remains critical in ensuring socio-economic development. Many other sectors of our economy such as tourism, hospitality and entertainment rely heavily on the liquor industry. A thriving liquor industry is therefore in the interest of this province,” Dube-Ncube said.

The provincial government has undertaken to continue to work with stakeholders to strengthen the control and regulation of liquor through the KwaZulu-Natal Liquor Act during the lockdown period and beyond.

She said that, through the KZN Liquor Board Authority, the department will embark on awareness campaigns in order to educate communities about the Act and lockdown regulations.

“During this period, we have joined forces with law enforcement agencies and industry role players to clamp down on those flouting the regulations and any law of the country,” Dube-Ncube said.

While observing COVID-19 regulations, society has been urged to be vigilant and report to the police elements perpetuating criminal acts against children, youth, women, and persons with disabilities during the lockdown.

The call was made by the Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, on Sunday in the wake of the murder of five-year-old, Mzwandile Zitho.

The boy’s naked body was found just hours after he had been reported missing at the Orange Farm police station on Wednesday.

Mzwandile’s grandmother Nompumelelo Zitho, 63, last saw her grandson at around 11am on Tuesday. She said due to the lockdown she did not allow Mzwandile to play with other children in the street.

His body was discovered next to a fridge at a house in Extension 4, Orange Farm, south of Johannesburg inside a tavern. The boy had a string tied around his neck and a handkerchief tied around his ankle.

Expressing condolences to Mzwandile’s family, Nkoana-Mashabane said the continued killing and raping of women and children by people who are supposed to love and care for them is a great shame on society.

The Minister commended the police for the discovery and swift arrest of a couple – aged 29 and 30 – in Orange Farm. The couple, who are the owners of the establishment where the body was found, are expected to appear in court soon.

“Whilst we are taking extreme measures to protect ourselves from the COVID-19 virus, I am pleading to the nation to continue reporting any form of criminal activity to SAPS and to elevate levels of vigilance to ensure children, youth, women, and persons with disabilities are safe from perpetrators who capitalise on the current situation for evil personal gains,” said Minister Nkoana-Mashabane.

She said now is the time, more than ever, to unite.

“Time to be tolerant of each other. Now is the time to demonstrate humanity and Ubuntu. Let’s stay home, adhere to the rules, and demonstrate that together we can come out of this stronger as a country.”

Despite the country being on standstill and citizens urged to stay at home during the lockdown, 26 crashes were recorded resulting in 28 people losing their lives on the roads over the Easter long weekend.

While there were 70% fewer cars on the road and motorists commended for obeying the lockdown regulations to flatten the COVID-19 curve, statistics still call for concern.

This year’s figures is a significant drop compared to last year, where a total of 104 deaths were recorded.

However, Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula said this is no cause for celebration because there’s still a long way to go to win this war against road fatalities, when he released the statistics on Friday.

He said most crashes involved pedestrians and single vehicles overturned, with contributions of 38% and 19%, respectively.

“Any attempt to compare year-on-year figures will be an exercise in futility as the material conditions are fundamentally different from a normal period where traffic is able to move freely,” he said.

The Minister attributed the drop of road users to schools closing early, cancellation of pilgrimages, and travel ban between metros, districts and provinces since 26 March when the lockdown was implemented.

While he praised the people for having kept it together this Easter period, as painful as the lockdown has been to many, law enforcement still had their hands full as they had to deal with the wrongdoers.

The number of arrests for violation of the road traffic laws stood at 719 compared to 1 343 in 2019. Meanwhile, a total of 104 140 vehicles were stopped and checked at roadblocks, 236 vehicles impounded and 171 vehicles discontinued due to unroadworthiness.

Mpumalanga recorded the highest number of deaths standing at seven followed by KwaZulu-Natal with six and the Eastern Cape with five. While Gauteng, Western Cape and North West each recorded three deaths. Limpopo had one, while Free State recorded zero fatalities.

“There’s no victory to claim out of that, unfortunately, as the Minister of Transport, I can’t pray for decongestion on the road. It is my nightmare for many years to come when we’re dealing with the Road Traffic Management. As the economy grows, many people get jobs, and everybody has a car,” he added.

Mbalula said the officers will continue to enforce lockdown rules and ensure compliance.

Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga has condemned the 397 incidents of vandalism, burglary and destruction of schools across several provinces since the start of the COVID-19 nationwide lockdown.

The damage of school property includes torching of schools, the theft of learning as well as teaching equipment, including Information Communication Technology (ICT) equipment.

The breakdown of the vandalism in schools is as follows: Mpumalanga 73; Gauteng 67; Western Cape 57; North West 55; Northern Cape 39; KwaZulu-Natal 34; Limpopo 30; Eastern Cape 26; and Free State 16.

“It is really unfortunate that criminals in our communities could destroy the infrastructure of their own children. We applaud the work done by the Police and we hope that more arrests will be made. We want to see the arrest and prosecution of every single criminal responsible for this kind of behaviour,” the Minister said in a statement on Friday.

Police in Gauteng have thus far arrested 44 suspects, including those found in possession of stolen property linked to school break-ins in the province.

Two arrests were made in the last 24 hours in KwaZulu-Natal in connection with the break-ins.

“These criminals must be reported to the police immediately. Let us work together to safeguard the future of our children by exposing these criminal elements,” she said.

The Minister said communities are meant to be caretakers of the infrastructure that government had put in place for the education of children.

“The damage caused due to the torching and theft in the schools will have a negative impact on the implementation of the recovery plan once the lockdown is lifted. Provincial Education Departments have reported an alarming number of schools that have been vandalized.

“In all the burglaries learning and teaching equipment has been stolen together with other expensive items. The most common target areas in the schools are the administration blocks for ICT equipment and the nutrition centres for the food items,” the Department of Basic Education said.

Companies, which are registered through the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission’s (CIPC) BizPortal to perform essential services during the lockdown period, will be required to have a new certificate from the BizPortal website for the extended period of the lockdown.

“The new certificate will clearly state that it is for the extended lockdown period, beginning 17 April 2020, and South African Police Service officials will be told which certificates to look for,” the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition said in a statement.

To provide time for businesses to adjust to the new requirements, the new certificates will be available to be displayed from start of business on Monday, 20 April 2020.

“The certificate will be sent via email using the details provided at the time of registration, and will also be available for download from Thursday. Companies will receive the certificates from Thursday and the full list of registered companies will have received their certificates by the weekend,” the department said.

The CIPC certificate is a reference to the legal registration of the company in terms of the Companies Act, 2008 (Act No. 71 of 2008) and a record of registration to the CIPC.

It does not give a firm or individual a right to trade if that company does not fall into an essential service as defined in the lockdown regulations.

The department reminded the public that possession of the CIPC certificate is still subject to the company fully complying with the applicable lockdown regulations and is a record of the company’s details, and does not in itself constitute the right to continue operating during the period.

“Only businesses which provide essential services in terms of the lockdown regulations, as amended, issued by the Minister for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs may continue their operations during the COVID-19 lockdown,” the department said

The registration Bizportal is only for companies registered in terms of the Companies Act.

Other essential service providers, like healthcare professionals registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa, sole proprietors who provide essential goods and services (like small business owners and spaza shops), and small-scale farmers will not register through the Bizportal.

These businesses will not have a CIPC certificate, but must still comply with the provisions of the lockdown regulations.

“Where the CIPC finds that certificates have been issued to companies which do not meet the definitions of an essential service, such certificate will be revoked, and the company will be referred to the South African Police Services.

“False declaration by the company is a criminal offence and will result in prosecution, in terms of lockdown regulations,” the department said.

The regulations for the extended lockdown have also clarified that the transportation of liquor is prohibited, except where alcohol is required for industries producing hand sanitisers, disinfectants, soap, alcohol for industrial use and household cleaning products.

To confirm if your business complies, the public can consult the necessary regulation at https://www.gov.za/documents/disaster-management-act-regulations-address….

South Africa has 2 605 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with Limpopo and the Eastern Cape recording their first deaths.

“It is with regret that we inform the public that the COVID-19 related deaths is now 48.

“We note that two provinces, Limpopo and the Eastern Cape, have also recorded their first deaths. We convey our condolences to the families.

“We continue to speak strength and appreciate our dedicated health workers, who are faced with these circumstances daily,” said the Health Department on Thursday.

The number of tests being conducted continues to rise, with the total number of tests conducted to date being 95 060.

The Department said it was encouraged by the increased number of patients, who have recovered from COVID19.

The provincial breakdown is as follows:

PROVINCE                 CONFIRMED CASES            DEATHS         RECOVERIES

GAUTENG                              969                             6                     479

WESTERN CAPE                    675                            13                    205

KWAZULU – NATAL             539                             20                    96

EASTERN CAPE                    220                              4                       9

FREE STATE                          98                                4                      71

LIMPOPO                              26                                1                    18

NORTH WEST                       24                                0                     10

MPUMALANGA                     22                               0                      9

NORTHERN CAPE                16                                0                     6

UNALLOCATED                     16                               0                     0

TOTAL                                    2605                           48                   903