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Pretoria man arrested for COVID-19 video

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The South African Police Services (SAPS) have arrested a 23-year-old man in Pretoria for allegedly contravening the Regulations of the Disaster Management Act 2002.

The suspect is likely to face charges of at least contravening Regulation 11B of the Disaster Management Act 2002. This as South Africans observe the tenth day of lockdown to curb the spread of COVID-19.

On 27 March 2020 little snippets of a video, in which two young men were seen travelling around Pretoria with one of them continuously swearing, mocking efforts to curb the COVID-19 virus and bragging they do not comply with laws put in place to contain the virus, went viral.

In one of the snippets, one man appears to be standing in front of a police station and swearing about the virus.

The video was investigated and the suspect was traced and found inside a residential complex in the Lyttelton policing area.

He is currently in police custody and he is expected to appear in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court tomorrow.

“The arrest of this suspect – as well as at least six other suspects that have been arrested for creating such videos and posting fake news – should be a reminder that the security forces enforcing the regulations to contain the COVID-19 virus have the capacity and capability to identify those responsible for such transgressions, however long it may take,” Police said in a statement.

People are urged to view the scourge of COVID-19 virus seriously as thousands of people globally have lost their lives this to this plague.

“The regulations are being enforced not to punish people but to protect lives against this pandemic,” Police said. – SAnews.gov.za

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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.