By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
North West Community Safety and Transport Management MEC, Sello Lehari said they will continue to ensure that people adhere to the COVID-19 regulations. Few people were fined for not wearing masks in Taung during a planned joint multipurpose law enforcement operation on Friday.
“We visited Taung taxi rank to do COVID-19 compliance enforcement and we also implemented a roadside station to check compliance as well as non-documented persons. The taxi rank visitation seeks to ensure compliance with COVID regulations as the country experience strain variant.
“Several public transport users were fined for not wearing masks in a multi-purpose joint law enforcement operation. Also taxi operators without operating permits and those with expired licenses found themselves at the receiving end of the unsmiling, but friendly law enforcement officers,” he said.
Lehari further said the operation focused on Road Traffic Management Act compliance, taxi operators and permit compliance as well as COVID-19 regulations.
The Director for Permit and Operator Licenses, Dr Ntlhopeng Dikobe said: “Ultimately, our aim is to ensure that there is absolute adherence. The department thereafter led interactive engagements with shoppers and commuters at the local taxi rank to encourage compliance with COVID-19 regulations.
“We encouraged for COVID-19 compliance. Impressively, over 90% of the taxis stopped, complied with their operating guidelines, and were also in their routes.”
Meanwhile, the North West Police Provincial Commander, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena urged members of the community to comply with the Disaster Management Act Regulations as part of minimising the spread of the Coronavirus. Kwena said 1458 suspects were arrested in all districts through the Safer Festive Season/Operation “Tlotla Molao” since 28 December 2020 to date for various contraventions relating to the Adjusted Level 3 Lockdown regulations.
“The police have arrested 625 suspects for failure to confine to residences, while 661 suspects were being in a public place without wearing masks. Moreover, 115 suspects were also arrested for the sale, dispensing, and distribution of liquor.
“Police also arrested 52 suspects for failure to close cinemas, restaurants, and faith-based institutions on regulated time. Two suspects were arrested for carrying of more than 70% of the licensed capacity for long-distance travel by a bus or taxi service, while three people were arrested for exceeding the maximum number of customers and employees by a business,” Kwena said.
He also applauded the law enforcement officials for their hard work in ensuring compliance with the regulations. Kwena urged members of the community to be disciplined and on their own, comply with the regulations as part of minimising infections as the law enforcement will continue to intensely tighten the grip on those who disrespect the rule of law.
The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the North West province is 46451 with 35741 recoveries which translates into a 76.9% recovery rate and 703 deaths. The province now has 10007 active cases, of which 596 cases were identified in the last 24 hours.
The Guardian 