Police Minister Bheki Cele criticized for lack of action by cops in Nkandla

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By Staff Reporter 23 months ago

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Cape Town – Police Minister Bheki Cele has come under increasing criticism over displayed disobedience in Nkandla, where many supporters of former President Jacob Zuma have gathered in recent days, defying lockdown rules.

Late last week, police at the end of last week issued a stern warning that anyone found organizing or participating in rallies would be fined, jailed, or both. .

No arrests were made outside the Zumas farm where a large contingent of police were deployed.

The police presence has also been strengthened in other parts of KwaZulu-Natal, where Zuma has a large support base.

Police spokesman Brigadier Vishnu Naidoo said the joint national operations and intelligence structure had further improved the province’s operational capability, in response to incidents in which people appeared to be undermining the State authority, including by flouting the regulations of the Disaster Management Act.

He said that during the deployment, commanders and members of the SAPS in the field were given clear and concise guidelines, that responses to all situations must be informed by proper analysis.

To that end, each situation will be assessed and dealt with on its own merits, he said.

Last Tuesday, Cele warned those threatening to defy lockdown regulations in the wake of the third wave of Covid-19 infections sweeping the country.

We want to take this opportunity to remind the nation that reckless calls for massive violation of the Disaster Management Act have no place in our society.

Police and security forces will continue to play their role with the community, he said.

Cele said failure to comply would result in a fine or jail term of no more than six months or both. As of March 2020, 465,098 people have been charged with breaches of the Disaster Management Act.

All of these people will be charged and have a criminal record. (In total) 7,439 of them were arrested during alert level 4 on June 16.

Police will continue to monitor compliance through targeted operations that will be stepped up in sensitive provinces, he said.

Acting Health Minister Mmamoloko Nkhensani Kubayi was among those who raised concerns about the rally over the weekend.

I (shudder) thinking of the aftermath of Nkandla’s reunion with the current variant. After the Pretoria march, the court protests in Johannesburg and the marches in Soweto, we saw the numbers go over 26,000 last night.

I flap to think about the sequel to the gathering of Nkandla with the current variant. After the Pretoria march, the demonstration in front of the Joburg court and the Soweto marches, we saw the numbers go over 26,000 last night. pic.twitter.com/GiIOkD3N4o

– Mmamoloko Nkhensani Kubayi (@mmkubayi) July 4, 2021

However, after seeing images and visuals of the large crowds in Nkandla, many criticized Cele for the apparent lack of enforcement of the lockdown rules:

So what happens now that level 4 lockdown regulations weren’t enforced by SAPS this weekend? If those in Nkandla are above the law, surely you can’t punish a South African for being on the road after 9pm, for not wearing a mask, or for having gathered in a group? I was just asking ?!

– Liezl van der Merwe (@Liezl_vdMerwe) July 4, 2021

They could open Tops in Nkandla with level 4 restrictions in place, Ramaphosa and Bheki Cele wouldn’t do anything about it.

– IG: sohsoh_d (@SohSoh_D) July 5, 2021

Bheki Cele has bullied the whites on the beach now that he’s moving like headless chickens, the real challenge is in Nkandla.

– alfred cabonena (@alfred_cabonena) July 4, 2021

Where is it now, Mr. President, where are you, what can Angie do, she can’t even run the school, aren’t the people of nkandla putting themselves in danger and putting others in danger? danger, South Africa is just another joke for the world …

– master lebmo (@MLebmo) July 4, 2021

Speaking to the media in Soweto, where he and the National Police Commissioner General Khehla Sitole witnessed the start of the SAPS vaccination campaign this morning, Cele defended the police handling of the Nkandla protesters. .

I want to commend the police for the way they behaved. The problem is, the information that people don’t have, we’ll have it.

There were about over 100 people who were armed and mingling with the people you saw in Nkandla.

Now the police knew it. The police had this information. They even tried to provoke the police to use their guns there.

“There were a lot of women and children there and the police had to step back,” Cele said.

We had to accept and absorb the insults and complaints, but (like) the South African police taught us all from Marikana.

IOL

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