28 August 2020
By Staff Reporter
The Kimberley community welcomed the multi-disciplinary joint operation by the combined law enforcements on businesses in the CBD, where Covid-19 regulations were inspected on Friday 31 July.
According to Police Spokesperson Brigadier Mohale Ramatseba, at least 67 businesses were visited. The operation was led by Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Risimati Shivuri along with the MEC for Transport, Safety and Liaison Nomandla Bloem, the Director General Advocate Justice Bekebeke, Sol Plaatje Municipality Executive Mayor Patrick Mabilo, the Regional Commissioner of Correctional Services in the Free State/Northern Cape, Commissioner Moodley. Other law enforcements included members of the Provincial Joint Operations, the Provincial Deputy of Crime Detection, Major General Koliswa Otola and provincial heads.
The operation was sparked by several complaints raised by community members. Their concerns were that there are people who still roam the streets without masks and some small stores not availing sanitizers to customers.
Colonel Mashay Gamieldien pointed out that the use of masks inside business premises, social distancing and sanitizing of customers were inspected during the operation. She said the South African Police Service, South African National Defence Force, State Security Agency, Home Affairs, Correctional Services, safety volunteers, the Premier’s office and Sol Plaatje Municipality also held a parade in the parking area of the Kimberley library on Friday. “The Provincial Commissioner and MEC for the Department of Transport, Safety and Liaison Nomandla Bloem addressed the parade. They expressed their gratitude and appreciation to all members for their continued persistence in enforcing the lockdown regulations,” said Gamieldien.
A shopper, Andiswa Louw who witnessed the operation in progress was relieved and applauded government members for their efforts. She highlighted to the police to intervene in enforcing the law on people who also disregard lockdown regulations, mostly in townships. “They must also do inspections on what we regard as fake sanitisers that some businesses use to spray on our hands. Sometimes these sanitisers do not even smell of anything and look like dirty water. They will make us more sick. We need to report them somewhere,” said Louw. She made another call for stringent action to be taken against stores, more especially the big ones who refuse to close down for decontamination after experiencing positive cases of COVID-19.
The National Chamber of Commerce Industry (NOCCI) welcomed the operation, although they were not alerted about it in time.
NOCCI Chief Executive Officer Sharon Steyn, said she did not expect businesses to complain about such an operation, even if they were fined for non-compliance. “If they were fined during the operation then it means they were wrong for not adhering to the regulations. They should not complain’’, said Steyn.
Lieutenant General Shivuri urged members to take care of themselves during this period and to wear their personal protection equipment at all times.
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