South Africa’s police service said it had arrested four of its members for allegedly taking part in illegal liquor trade, undermining a lockdown ban on the sale of alcohol and cigarettes.
Several shuttered liquor outlets have been looted since President Cyril Ramaphosa imposed a nation-wide lockdown to halt the spread of coronavirus.
Police minister Bheki Cele on Sunday said there had been at 16 reports of raids on liquor stores in South Africa’s Western Cape province, home to the southern city of Cape Town, since the lockdown started on March 27.
Cele also “noted with concern the alleged involvement of police members in some of the liquor related crimes”.
Two warrant officers were arrested on Thursday after police received a tip-off and “pounced on the suspects inside the store”, Cele said in a statement.
They were caught “buying liquor that was allegedly going to be resold illegally elsewhere,” he added.
Another two members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) were arrested in northern Mpumalanga province on Friday for using state vehicles to escort three pick-up trucks loaded with alcohol.
READ ALSO: South African Policemen Arrested For Illegal Liquor Deals During Lockdown
“The three vehicles allegedly belong to a tavern owner who was also arrested with two other drivers,” the police said.
Cele has called for an urgent meeting with liquor retailers to address the growing black market for alcohol. He has also urged local police to crack down on shop looters.
To date South Africa has detected 2,028 cases of coronavirus, the highest in Africa. At least 25 people have died from the disease.
AFP
The vaccine protects people against five strains of the meningococcus bacteria.
He also denied that his action was politically motivated, insisting that he was only ensuring…
Justice Rahman Oshodi, who ruled on his bail application, admitted him to bail in the…
The students were kidnapped by some criminals from their hostels about three weeks ago.
Haaland has netted 30 times this season and scored 52 goals last term when City…
Postecoglou's side travel to Newcastle on Saturday looking to cement their grip on fourth place…