Don t punish the law abiders, ’ shut down the super-spreaders

Over several weeks I have visited various coffee shops, restaurants and pubs in Port Elizabeth (Walmer, South End, Newton Park, and Sunridge) and all these establishments have been compliant with Covid-19 safety protocols such as wearing masks, social distancing, provision of alcohol spray and controls to limit the number of paying customers.

Yet Nelson Mandela Bay’s acting mayor has had meetings with tavern owners in areas such as Kwazakhele, New Brighton and Motherwell, where the Covid-19 rules, as reported, are not in any way being adhered to, resulted in the spike in cases the city is experiencing.

These [officials] do not speak to all the law-abiding establishments I have visited, nor should these law- abiding establishments suffer another shutdown because tavern owners couldn’t care less.

The solution is to use SAPS, metro police and even the SANDF to monitor and police all areas for compliance and close non-complying establishments down immediately.

Selling liquor for off-site drinking will not work, because boozers will simply gather in places to drink and party, as has been constantly seen along the Summerstrand to Willows stretch of road. Don’t punish the law abiders.

Gordon Upton, Port Elizabeth

It ’ s not surprising that we have the second wave of Covid in Port Elizabeth.

I was driving on the beachfront on Sunday at 6pm and pubs, Beer Shack and Barney’s Tavern were full to capacity.

No masks, no distancing, plenty of drinking.

What a disgrace. They should be fined and closed.

I drove further to the braai area opposite Summerstrand Hotel — exactly the same.

Where are the law officers, SAPS, traffic? Probably too scared to tackle the problem.

Close down these places that don’t conform to rules, lock up the people who break the law.

Olly, Port Elizabeth