As the Festive Season begins in earnest, South Africans are ignoring the pleas of Health Authorities to wear masks and follow social distancing rules.

That is according to Police Minister Bheki Cele who has called on the SA Police Service to “strengthen their resolve” in clamping down on Covid-19 lockdown regulation contraventions.

While the countries most famous beaches in KwaZulu-Natal are set to close on what are usually the busiest days, there are also signs that government is planning stricter regulations.

Cele warned that he is now expecting police officers to make arrests and enforce rules more effectively.

“South Africans must learn to behave. Yes, extra care from you is expected, but South Africans are not there to break the law as they wish. We know what to do and not what to do,” he told a law enforcement parade in Limpopo.

While the Minister spent time visiting the Musina border post, his attention appeared to be partially focused on the coast.

Beaches to close

On Monday, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that areas with the highest rate of infection, beaches and public parks will be closed for the duration of the festive season between 16 December 2020 and 3 January 2021.

The beaches of the Eastern Cape and Garden Route in the Western Cape are shut until further notice,  those in KwaZulu-Natal, are to officially close on what are traditionally the busiest days of the season.

These include the 25th, 26th and 31st of December 2020 and the 1st, 2nd and 3rd of January 2021. The beaches and public parks of the Northern Cape and the Western Cape remain open.

 

Women and children reclining on a Sea Point Beach in Cape Town South Africa without masks as Covid-19 intensifies.

Maskless at Sea Point. Image: Soligah Solomons, Health-News.