Since easing if the lockdown came into effect, many parts of the country has seen a sharp incline in crime rate. According to the SAPS, the increase in Mpumalanga is negligible, and under control. “At Levels 5 and 4, the regulations were very strict. Now that we’ve entered Level 3, the regulations have been relaxed a bit and there’s more movement of people from June 1, that doesn’t call for the SAPS to relax their viciousness of repelling all kinds of crime, including gender-based violence. We will leave no stone unturned in unraveling all types of crime in our communities at all costs. Our forces are ready to fight it, head-on.” This was the statement from Lt. General Mondli the cluster police in Pixley ka Isaka Seme conducted a roadblock in Volksrust. During this joint operation with the SAPS, traffic officers, and the MEC for community safety, security and liaison, Gabisile Shabalala. Some confusion was noticed with the COVID-19 regulations.

“There are a lot of transgressions on travel permits, especially from province to province. We had to turn back seven vehicles at the time we spent there. One had a bottle of liquor on his person, and another was in possession of a firearm, which was licensed. “The permit issue needs to be drummed into travelers from province to province, that each time you travel, it must be for a valid reason like for work purposes or funerals, and these permits must be applied for at your local municipality or police station. You can’t just drive into another province to collect friends and family without a permit. Worse still, the passengers who include children, all don’t have permits,” he concluded.