The Gauteng MEC for Community Safety, Faith Mazibuko and Mpumalanga MEC for Community Safety, Security and Liaison, Gabisile Shabalala participated in a multidisciplinary roadblock which took place on Friday 24 April 2020, on the N17 Road near Leandra.
The area where the operation took place links both Gauteng and Mpumalanga provinces. The N17 Road further links the country with the Kingdom of eSwatini through the Oshoek Port of Entry. During the operation aimed at monitoring and enforcing compliance with the COVID-19 National Disaster Act Regulations, several motorists were turned back due to non-compliance with the Lockdown Regulations. The reasons for turning motorists were mainly not having permits for interprovincial travel and travelling with children without the required documents.
MEC Shabalala, reacting to some of the transgressions, appealed for increased compliance with the Regulations by all communities, including motorists. She further blasted people who were travelling with children without the required documents in line with the Lockdown.
“We only let through children in a co-parenting arrangement. In such cases, the parents of these minors must produce court orders or the parental responsibilities document, as well as birth certificates, rights agreement or parenting plan in order to go through," the MEC explained. She also added that those who intend to travel to funerals with children, must produce permits for the children along with death certificates.
On the other hand, MEC Mazibuko concurred with Shabalala that communities should comply with the Regulations, stated that these measures are implemented in an effort to contain the spread of Covid-19 virus and not to suppress communities.
"President Ramaphosa said that interprovincial travel will still be prohibited during Level 4 of the lockdown. Therefore we wish to urge people who work in one province and reside in another province, to request their employers to give them permits stipulating that the person travels interprovincially. The permit should also state the work and residential address of the permit holder to avoid being turned back at the roadblock," Mazibuko added.
Both MECs have also applauded all law enforcement officers for their dedication to enforcing compliance with the regulations. The MECs encouraged law enforcement officers to not be deterred in executing their duties, but should continue to work hard in order to ensure compliance with the Regulations, to flatten the curve of the Coronavirus. MEC Mazibuko also said that the officers at these operations must be screened on a regular basis because they are also at the forefront of the ongoing war against the spread of Covid-19 virus.
She further encouraged them to maintain social distancing at all times between themselves and motorists in execution of their duties. The operation is part of monitoring the Lockdown Regulations compliance by motorists travelling between the two provinces. In prior weeks the MECs had visited the N4 and N12 roadblocks.