The vehicles were impounded for numerous contraventions, including operating outside stipulated times, ferrying people not categorised as essential service workers and exceeding the number of permitted passengers in a minibus taxi, municipal spokesman David Magae said.

"A number of sedans were also impounded for being found to have occupants exceeding the required number as per the regulations governing motor vehicles," he said.

"Additionally, more arrests have been effected, where 19 males including two foreign nationals have been detained at Tlhabane police station for failure to be confined to residences during lockdown."

He said two shops had been fined R1,500 each for failing to stop business operations as required under the lockdown.

Some taxi operators in Lethabong had on Saturday decided to charge R10 more than usual for trips, Magae said, but this was quickly nipped in the bud by the taxi association, with the commuters being refunded.

Meanwhile, transport Minister Fikile Mbalula has relaxed the lockdown regulated times for public transport in order to give buses and minibus taxis extended time from Monday until Friday to ferry social grant beneficiaries to collect their payouts.

"The exercise of social distancing by all those using public transport must be observed and enforced," Mbalula said, adding that grant recipients should carry their identity documents and South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) cards when travelling on public transport.

President Cyril Ramaphosa announced a three-week national lockdown from March 27 to April 16 in an attempt to arrest the rapid spread of Covid-19 in South Africa, which has so far recorded 1,280 confirmed cases and two deaths.

Under the lockdown, one can only leave home under strictly controlled measures. Only essential service workers are allowed to be at work, including supermarket employees.

African News Agency