South Africa
#CoronavirusSA: Be wary of getting a criminal record - Cele─── 11:51 Wed, 13 Jan 2021
Police Minister Bheki Cele is asking South Africans to do the right thing and spare themselves a criminal record.
He says police have arrested thousands for breaking new Level 3 Lockdown regulations.
"Since level 3, the mask has become mandatory. It is a criminal record not to wear the mask. Before, it was us urging you to put the mask on. Now, we take you to the police station. We take you fingerprints. You choose to pay the fine or, you choose to see the magistrate. Both processes give you a criminal record. You know what criminal records do to your life, going forward."
The minister hopes the arrests will stop citizens from breaking the law.
Meanwhile, the Department of Health confirmed 13,105 new COVID-19 cases in South Africa.
SA's death toll is at 34,334 after the department reported 755 more COVID-19 related deaths.
