Police urge community to stop sport tournaments
MTUBATUBA Mayor Cedrick Zungu has urged local sport organisers to stop arranging events and observe all lockdown regulations to curb the spread of Covid-19.
‘The coronavirus is deadly and that is why all community events have been put on hold. ‘We are losing many people to this pandemic and I want to urge people to stay at home as the law demands,’ Zungu said.
‘Defying the lockdown restrictions is a serious offence. Weddings and other community events are on hold, and sport organisers might find themselves in jail for breaking the Covid-19 regulations.’
Zungu’s plea comes after the death of a 16-year-old soccer player, Mpilonhle Mnguni of Somkhele Reserve outside Mtubatuba, who collided with his opponent during a match at the local soccer field. He was rushed to a local clinic, where he was declared dead.
Although the incident was not Covid-related, it placed the focus on unsanctioned soccer matches taking place throughout the region.
Mtubatuba police spokesperson, Captain Justice Hlabisa, promised to intensify patrols in Mfekayi after noticing many soccer activities in the area.
‘For example, police on patrol noticed a huge crowd at the Mfekayi sports field where a male and female soccer tournament was in progress.
‘We identified the organisers and warned them to refrain from conducting such events which were in contravention of the Disaster Management Act.’
‘Club captains were advised to abandon the games and not participate in any further soccer matches until the law allows them to do so. We further ordered players and spectators to leave and stay at home,’ Hlabisa said.