Jane Furse – As people are enjoying the Day of Reconciliation in South Africa, the residents of Ngwaabe were forcefully dispersed as they gathered there to enjoy this day.
The question we can ask ourselves is that, did the police act in good faith or there was a police force unreasonable to be directed at the situation?
Today, SA mark the first day of the additional restrictions to level 5 of lockdown, as the country is facing a second wave of the Coronavirus.
Some of the residents went to Facebook (FB) to exhibit their anger following the way the police treated them.
One of the FB users from Ngwaabe touched the provisions or restrictions outlined to be adhere to as he said the curfew is supposed to commence around 11pm and they know they are supposed to go home around 10pm as to shun from transgressing the level 5 newly implemented rules.
“They didn’t say events should stop, they said fifty percent (50%) capacity of the venue is needed and time to knockoff is 22:00, then curfew moves to 23:00 to 04am,” said one of the community members.
He then highlighted the number of people President Ramaphosa said are needed indoors and those needed outdoors, calling on the public to please talk with this “illiterate” police.
“Hundred (100) people for indoors events and two-hundred and fifty (250) people for outdoors events. Please talk to those people who are illiterate,” th FB user added.
Another FB user replied by saying “true unless if the event doesn’t comply yes.”
The other said “event organisers must make sure that their people wear masks and sanitise their hand” so that they would be able to impugn the police’s decision of sending away from any event.
If you go back to Cyril Ramaphosa’s speech when he was addressing the nation and dismantling the curfew implementation. The president said, the local authorities will be making sure that the restrictions are put in place.
Calling a spade a spade, he never said the police will be forcefully dispersing crowds. In simple terms, those not following the protocols are the ones upon which further actions can be taken.
This further calls for the president to delegate those who will be educating and outlining the curfew to the police in a language they best understand so that they won’t violate the rights of the inhabitants of the Republic of SA.
Restriction of movement of movement was the case in level one, and the president made it clear that such a strictest level isn’t necessary to re-implement.
He said we must work together as we did in the first wave, he didn’t say those with powers must supress those subordinate to them.
Police Service Act 68 of 1995 must be observed, especially the functions thereof which reads with section 205 of the Constitution; to enforce the law and protect the citizens of SA – not to change the law.
It was 16:31, when STUF News Team reached someone from Phalaborwa to ask of how people are enjoying Reconciliation Day since SA is in curfew. The source
“There are lots of events happening here and myself, I’m still cleaning. I’m at my sister’s house busy with cleaning,” the source said.
When the team asked her to briefly tell what’s happening there, she told STUF News that, it’s a rainy day with a street bash to taking place in the neighbouring village called Makhushane.
“It’s a rainy day there is a street bash happening in the neighbouring village called Makhushane. I think I’ll be going there later on.
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