The police ministry spokesperson, Lirandzu Themba, tells OFM News that these numbers include those who were either arrested or fined for various contraventions. She says a total of 49,119 people in the Free State, 22,009 in the North West, and 11,186 in the Northern Cape were either arrested or fined since March 2020.

OFM News previously reported that an owner of a night club in Jouberton near Klerksdorp in the North West paid an admission of guilt fee after he was charged for allowing over 50 patrons inside the premises without even wearing masks. Several people in the Free State and Northern Cape have also been arrested for various contraventions and these include the recent arrest of a 37-year-old Lesotho national who was arrested in Clocolan for the transportation of alcohol.

Lirandzu says since the start of the national lockdown in March 2020, more than 342 000 people have been arrested. Meanwhile, the Police Minister Bheki Cele earlier this week said at least 20 000 people were arrested since the start of December.

OFM News