lockdown Mazinywana eastern cape South African Police Service march to disperse students blocking traffic in Johannesburg, in March. Michele Spatari / AFP via Getty Images

South African Police Service march to disperse students blocking traffic in Johannesburg, in March. Michele Spatari / AFP via Getty Images

Lockdown latest: SAPS warns citizens will be jailed for breaking rules

Police in KZN have beefed up their capacity to police the Lockdown Alert Level 4 regulations in the province.

lockdown Mazinywana eastern cape South African Police Service march to disperse students blocking traffic in Johannesburg, in March. Michele Spatari / AFP via Getty Images

South African Police Service march to disperse students blocking traffic in Johannesburg, in March. Michele Spatari / AFP via Getty Images

The National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NatJOINTS) has further beefed up its operational capacity in KwaZulu-Natal to clamp down on citizens who are allegedly violating the Lockdown Level 4 Alert regulations. 

SAPS national spokesperson Brigadier Vish Naidoo warned that citizens who failed to obey the regulations, including those who organised and attended illegal gatherings, would be fine or jailed.

He said that the policing structure had “enhanced” its operational capacity in the province  “in response to incidents in which people are seen to be undermining the authority of the State including the flouting of the DMA (Disaster Management Act) Regulations.

“During the deployment, SAPS commanders and members on the ground have been provided clear and concise directives, that responses to any and all situations must be informed by proper analysis. To this end,  every situation will be assessed and dealt with on its own merit,” Naidoo said.

“In situations where any operational response by the security forces may potentially result in injury and/or loss of life, a criminal case or cases will be opened against those that have created such situations and criminal action will be instituted against such persons,” he said.

People are reminded that the country is still under adjusted Alert Level 4 Lockdown, if we are to see a slow down in the spread of the virus, all citizens of the country are urged to strictly adhere to the Disaster Management Act Regulations and failure to do so, including any person organising or being part of gatherings will also result in people being fined or jailed or both,” Naidoo added.