Alcohol ban: Eastern Cape motorists nabbed for transporting booze

Two Eastern Cape motorists have been arrested for transporting alcohol in  contravention of the Disaster Management Act (DMA) regulations.

South Africa is currently under Adjusted Alert level 4 lockdown and the sale, onsite and offsite consumption of alcohol is restricted.

TWO ARRESTED FOR TRANSPORTING ALCOHOL

Police spokesperson Seargent Majola Nkohli said a 21-yer-old woman had been found with 13 litres of liquor in her white Opel Corsa. A second vehicle, a white VW Polo, was found transporting over 20 litres of liquor

The gazetted regulations states that: “the sale, dispensing and distribution of liquor is prohibited. 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.”

The motorists face charges of contravening the Disaster Management Act regulations and are expected to appear in Makhanda Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

This week, Cape Town Mayor, Dan Plato was accused of contravening level 4 lockdown regulations. The public official allegedly pressed ahead with a 25-venue event, which handed out awards for ‘community service’.

Dan Plato’s office has since offered an explanation, saying that the award ceremonies operated on a ‘collection only’ basis. According to a spokesperson for the Cape Town Mayor, all necessary precautions were taken.

In a statement issued earlier this week, GOOD slammed the event for being ‘reckless and irresponsible’. Political gatherings remain banned while Level 4 restrictions are in place – and the party has questioned his mayoral capabilities:

“All of these gatherings were unlawful and unnecessary. Plato was engaged in reckless and irresponsible political campaigning, at the residents’ expense. Plato should be charged and prosecuted for breaching Section 21 of the Regulations which expressly prohibit all gatherings – including social and political gatherings.”

“It is disgraceful that the Mayor of a major City acted with such defiance and disdain for the law and for the health and safety of the people he is meant to serve. He is not fit to be Mayor, and should therefore resign.”

READ: JUST IN: Alcohol sales prohibited as SA returns to Level 4 lockdown