South Africans caught with cigarettes in their cars will be arrested by police as it continues to be a crime until the regulations have changed, police minister Bheki Cele warns.
He avoided questions about allegations that the current ban on liquor and cigarettes could be extended to Level 1 of the restriction, saying only that it is discussing pressure in the National Coronavirus Command Board and that he, as a member, is reviewing it.
According to Cele, some 57,000 cases have already been opened by police after nearly 57 days of restraint against almost the same number of people who violated the regulations.
These included, for example, alcohol and cigarette related offenses, illegal gatherings, people who were outside their home, as well as cross-border or inter-provincial movements, business violations and transport-related offenses in particular taxis.
Asked why people are arrested if they are caught with liquor in their cars, Cele said the regulations are clear that the transport of liquor is illegal.
