The Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Liziwe Ntshinga has applauded the Eastern Cape communities for their unity and unwavering compliance with disaster management regulations on risk-adjusted level 4 of the lockdown.
General Ntshinga’s remarks come against the backdrop of the overwhelming support of various sectors of the community who have demonstrated responsible citizenship and respect for the rule of law. Notwithstanding the incidents of non-compliance in some parts of the province, the majority of the people have shown a remarkable level of conformity to lockdown regulations which include a curfew and other Covid-19 related protocols.
To sustain this momentum, SAPS management has affirmed their position to protect the people of the Eastern Cape against all forms of violence and disruptions which have the potential to compromise their health and the enforcement of the lockdown regulations. Non-compliance with DMA regulations remains a serious offense that is punishable by law. Those who are defiant of these laws do not only commit crimes but are undermining the peace and freedom that people of the Eastern Cape deserve to enjoy.
Against this background, policy management has intensified security measures through deployments in strategic areas by setting up operational roadblocks at all points of entry to the province. The objective of these operational measures is to strengthen and tighten the enforcement of lockdown regulations to save lives from super-spreaders of the devastating and deadly Covid-19 virus. This will be done through border control and massive roadblocks manned by the South African Police Service in concert with other law enforcement.
In terms of this compliance strategy, the inter-provincial movement of the people will be thoroughly scrutinised and limited from entering or leaving the Eastern Cape Province especially during curfew hours and in line with curfew restrictions. Operational Commanders have been directed to increase deployments and apply strict compliance and adherence to curfew stipulated times without any compromises.
“The health and security of our people are supreme to the leadership of this Province, and for this reason, we shall not leave anything to chance. We have got to exercise vigilance and ensure compliance with the set laws. Those who deliberately plan to defy the lockdown regulations have to think twice before contravening these laws. The people of this Province have demonstrated an incredible posture towards their well- being and for this particular reason, we cannot afford to disappoint them. This is part of our concerted effort to limit the movement of the people during curfew, and to protect people from unnecessary infections” said Lieutenant General Liziwe Ntshinga.
The Provincial Commissioner and her management are expected to take the tour of all the points of entry during the curfew hours to ensure compliance, safety, and security of the Eastern Cape communities as the measures are being implemented with immediate effect.