Police beef up security forces in Nkandla after mass gatherings
The National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NatJOINTS) says it has beefed up its operational capacity in KwaZulu-Natal in response to incidents in which people have been seen gatherings in large numbers and flouting the current Adjusted Level 4 lockdown restrictions.
The police will mainly be watching the Nkandla homestead of former President Jacob Zuma, where thousands of supporters have gathered since last week to show support for the embattled former president.
Zuma faces 15 months in jail for violating a Constitutional Court order.
On Sunday, supporters blocked the N2 as they descended on the entrance to the property, where Zuma addressed them.
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The mass gatherings are in contravention of the Covid-19 lockdown regulations that were implemented a week ago to try and curb the peak of the severe third wave of Covid-19 that is currently spreading across more provinces.
Acting Minister of Health Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane tweeted that she shutters to think of the after effect of the Nkandla gatherings.
"I shutter to think of the after effect of Nkandla gathering with the current variant. After the Pretoria March, Court Protest in Joburg & Marches in Soweto we saw numbers surge to above 26000 last night," reads the tweet.
Meanwhile, National Police spokesperson Vish Naidoo says police members on the ground have been provided clear and concise directives that responses to all situations must be informed by proper analysis.
“ To this end, every situation will be assessed and dealt with on it's own merit. In situations where any operational response by the security forces may potentially result in injury and/or loss of life, a criminal case or cases will be opened against those that have created such situations and criminal action will be instituted against such persons.
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"People are reminded that the country is still under adjusted Alert Level 4 Lockdown, if we are to see a slow down in the spread of the virus, all citizens of the country are urged to strictly adhere to the Disaster Management Act Regulations and failure to do so, including any person organisng or being part of gatherings will also result in people being fined or jailed or both,” says Naidoo.
