Photo: Flickr / GCIS
Photo: Flickr / GCIS
For the past six weeks, you would have been able to purchase alcohol and travel freely with it. But if you try to do that from Wednesday onwards, you could end up getting fined or detained. Bheki Cele has taken aim at his favourite type of criminals – ‘rogue drinkers’ – and stamped his authority with the reinstated alcohol ban.
During a JCPS address earlier in the day, the police minister announced that the police would take greater measures to prevent the illegal transportation of liquor while sales remain suspended.
It was confirmed that police roadblocks will be increased going forward, and police officers have been given permission from the top cop to conduct more ‘random stop and search operations’. Streets and malls have been identified as areas where people can expect to see a stronger police presence.
“The JCPS Cluster is responsible for ensuring that everyone complies with the regulations. This will include increased police visibility, roadblocks and patrols where applicable in streets, malls and other areas where people ignore social distancing protocols.”
“There will also be random stop and search operations to ensure that prohibition on the trade of alcohol and tobacco isn’t being subverted. Law enforcement officials depend upon the cooperation of community members to ensure these operations are handled in the best possible spirit, with the least disruption.”
Bheki Cele
All this for an alcohol ban, hey? The current laws, gazetted in haste on Sunday, still allow for the personal consumption of liquor if one is confined to their own homes. All public drinking remains outlawed, and the sale of booze remains off-limits until Cabinet says otherwise. Eish, time to get the pineapples ready.
Bheki Cele says police will increase roadblocks and introduce random stop and searches to ensure ban on alcohol sale is not being undermined.
— Govan Whittles (@van1go) July 15, 2020