Police swoop as partygoers in KWT ignore lockdown regulations

Law enforcement in the Buffalo City Metro was on high alert at the weekend as several areas resembled party scenes.

A total of 15 people, including minor girls, were arrested at a house party in King William’s Townfor contravening lockdown regulations.

A video of the arrest was viewed more than 270,000 times on Twitter.

In a second video related to the incident, two men could be seen shouting at police before one of them was escorted to the back of a van.

Police spokesperson Colonel Sibongile Soci confirmed that 15 people, aged between 15 and 23, were arrested for an unlawful gathering under the Disaster Management Act on Saturday night in Clubview, King William’s Town.

She said the six minor girls were released on warning. The rest were fined R2,000 each and are due to appear before the King William’s Town magistrate’s court on October 6.

BCM spokesperson Samkelo Ngwenya said figures received from the police showed police made 70 arrests in King William’s Town and five each in Mdantsane and East London.

“The city has been very concerned about the conduct of its residents ever since the lifting of lockdown level to 3 and the unbanning of alcohol,” Ngwenya said.

“We will intensify [operations in problematic areas] and we are calling on members of the community to continue alerting us whenever regulations are breached.”

The Daily Dispatch saw about 200 teenagers clustered near a garage in NU6, Mdantsane, on Saturday night.

Most wore masks while others hugged and walked hand-in-hand.

ANC and DA councillors said the problem was widespread.

DA councillor Sue Bentley said she had visited Sandile village in ward 32 where she saw “young people roaming the streets with no masks on”.

“I don’t say it’s a lack of being educated about the virus. It’s a lack of taking it seriously.”

DA councillor Bill Gould said: “What you saw is a common experience. It’s something that should concern all law-abiding citizens. We are trying to minimise the health risks from this pandemic. As the president said a week ago, it’s all in our hands.”

ANC councillor Crosby Kolela said although regulations were not the work of the council, the move to level 3 “has made a mockery of the whole thing. A drunk person will never wear a mask. They don’t stay in one place and they don’t want to drink alone.”