South Africa is in its fourth day of the three-week nationwide lockdown and law enforcement is faced with an uphill battle of restricting the movements of more than 50 million citizens.
After a few teething issues, it seems that the South African Police Services (SAPS) and the National Defence Force (SANDF) have gotten a grip on operations.
Townships and rural areas are the focal point of the police’s efforts in keeping people at home. Many detractors have already been arrested for being outside for no apparent reason.
Shebeens have been raided and forced to shut down and anyone found outside with no valid reason for not being at home, is either placed under arrest or chased down and assaulted.
The latter has received backlash on social media but, in justified cases, it has proven to be quite effective.
South Africa’s latest COVID-19 infections
On Sunday, the country’s health department reported a 7.8% increase in coronavirus (COVID-19) infections, taking the total to 1 280 known cases.
A cause for great worry came when the Western Cape confirmed that Khayelitsha, a township of more than half-a-million people, has reported a COVID-19 case.
Moreover, South Africa has recorded its second death resulting from COVID-19. Only 31 recoveries from the 1 280 cases have been made and the health department is expected to provide further updates on Monday.
A round-up of what went down on Day Three of SA lockdown
While South Africa’s healthcare sector deals with the medical aspect of combating COVID-19, it is the duty of the police and army to ensure that the strict rules of movement are adhered to.
However, this has been the hardest part of the lockdown. People have the right to access essential services like grocery shopping, bank and pharmacy visits.
Images and videos shared on Day Three showed improvements in social distancing practised at grocery stores but there were those bad apples that had to be rooted out of the bunch.
Take a look at some of the footage and images we found on how South Africa looked on the third day of the lockdown.
