Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula has come forward to express his concerns after seeing a huge spike in non-compliant road users with the transport regulations during the nationwide lockdown.
During the second week of the lockdown, it has been said that in total 17,559 cars had been stopped across the country on Monday, this number has now shot up to 29,738 two days later.
The transport regulations are in place to contain the virus and prevent road users from taking unnecessary trips and possibly infecting other residents. Increased disobedience to the transports bans that have been put into place is not only dangerous, it undermines the national lockdown.
Taxi drivers are currently facing new rules that only permit them to operate at specific times and also reduce the maximum capacity of the vehicle. Despite the Transport Minister personally speaking to taxi drivers and bosses there has also been a huge increase from 18 failures to follow regulations on Monday, spiking to 509 two days later.
The travel between provinces has also been restricted and on Monday a total of 125 had been stopped, rising to 196 just two days later.
The lockdown has been active for 14-days as of today, staying indoors can be “boring” it can be mentally tiring, however, these regulations are put into place to prevent the Health care system from being overwhelmed which will also save lives.
“This conduct demonstrate a worrying trend which must be roundly condemned by both government and civil society.”
“Those who undermine efforts to arrest the spread of this pandemic must face the full might of the law and equally face condemnation by society, as their behavior places the lives of millions at risk,” said the Minister.
