Actress Buhle Samuels got dragged for her ‘crime will go down’ thanks to Covid-19 joke.
Image: Instagram/Buhle Samuels
Buhle Samuels’ attempt at humour during these uncertain Covid-19 times has backfired.

On Twitter, the Muvhango actress said she thought some positives would come from the 21-day lockdown, which takes effect at midnight on Thursday and ends on April 16.

“I think one of the positive things that will come from the Covid-19 lockdown is no crime for a whole 21 days! It is said a habit can be formed/broken in 21 days, let’s hope thieves can learn better ways to behave in society!”Her tweet didn’t land as she intended. People started filling up her mentions with what the lockdown meant for most South Africans.

Some said her tweets were “stupid” and that crime would go up because people were losing their jobs.

Buhle had to “defend” herself.“Some [of] you need to have a little more humour! If you believe from just one tweet I’ve posted that I believe people can just stop being thieves in 21 days then I think you need to worry more about yourself!” she said.

Police minister Bheki Cele on Wednesday detailed how police would enforce the national 21-day lockdown.
Image: Trevor Samson
On Wednesday, police minister Bheki Cele explained how police would enforce the national 21-day lockdown.

Among other things, he said no alcohol would be allowed for the three-week period, people would not be allowed to leave home without valid reason, and that failure to follow the rules would result in a fine or a prison sentence.

Below is his full address, shared by the Saps. It has not been edited.

Minister of police unpacks measures by the police to enforce the national lockdown:

Honourable ministers, deputy ministers, DGs, senior officers from the JCPS [justice and crime prevention security cluster] and other government departments, members of the media, fellow South Africans,

Good day, Sanibonani, Dumelang

Annexure D (Regulations) – List of prohibited places

Following the declaration of a nationwide lockdown by the president this past Monday, we have sat as the JCPS Cluster and the South African Police Service to outline and intensify the measures we would be implementing to make sure that the intentions of this lockdown are realised.

With the subsequent deployment of the SANDF, we will be increasing visibility and conduct integrated foot patrols, roadblocks, vehicle checkpoints as of 23h59 on Thursday evening March 26 2020.

Metro Police Departments as well as other law enforcement agencies will form part of these joint operations that will be conducted for the duration of the lockdown. Operations, especially roadblocks, will be conducted at sector policing level within communities and residential areas, on provincial and national roads. This will ensure that the movement of people and vehicles is kept to the minimum, with the exception of the transportation of essential good and/or services which include fire and medical emergency services.

At these roadblocks, particularly on provincial and national roads, motorists, especially essential service workers that cross provincial borders, will be subjected to screening by officials from the department of health.

In terms of the new regulations that have just been gazetted, police will be responsible to ensure the restriction of movement of persons and goods. Therefore, there shall be absolutely no gatherings other than for a funeral, where the number of mourners will be restricted to 50.

Still on funerals, we need to emphasise that even night vigils will be prohibited.

Last weekend with the previous Covid-19 Disaster Management Regulations, we were inundated with requests for clarity and a lot of other questions around the selling and consumption of liquor. This time around with the national lockdown, the selling of liquor is strictly prohibited. This is applicable to also those supermarkets with liquor licences. No liquor will be sold anywhere by anyone during the 21-day period of the lockdown.

Equally, the movement of liquor between any two points is also strictly prohibited as per the Covid-19 Disaster Management Regulations.

The president, in declaring the lockdown, made exception to essential goods and services. A detailed list clarifying what these are, is attached as one of the annexures in the regulations. Only those goods and services that appear on these annexures will be allowed. Anything outside of these lists will not be entertained.Therefore, anyone found to be in contravention of the regulations, shall be found guilty and on conviction, will be liable to a fine, or imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months, or both.

We have noted the fear and the possibility of the escalation of gender-based violence that could come as a result of liquor now being consumed at home. As an extra measure, we have plans in place to beef up our FCS Units (Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences) to deal with this threat. The number 0800 150 150 can be used to report incidents of gender-based violence for urgent response.

Meanwhile, all forms of crime must be reported. Our 10111 will remain fully functional during the lockdown period. The Crime Stop number is also functional and can be used to give anonymous tip offs on suspected criminal activities. Also, police and the SANDF will be visible in the streets conducting foot patrols.

Ladies and gentlemen, the simplest and best way to combat the spread of the coronavirus is to adhere to the call by the president and STAY HOME. The only time you should be outside of your home should be to acquire essential services such as medical attention, food, or other goods and services, as listed in the annexure to the regulations.

Cooperation from the public is the best way to win this battle. I must appreciate the calls and tip-offs we got last weekend reporting people who were ignoring the Disaster Management Regulations. In fact, it is exactly that stubborn behaviour that has now caused us a national lockdown.

Again, I warn: failure to respect and obey the laws this time around could drive us straight into a state of emergency. The situation we find ourselves in demands that we all be responsible and take the necessary precautions.

Let us unite against the virus. Remember, our aim is to arrest the virus – not to arrest people.

Payday shopping is normally associated with long queues and long waits, and it was no different ahead of the national lockdown on Friday.

Queues were out of the door at many stores, but this was likely a result of stores limiting the amount of people inside in an attempt to enforce some form of social distancing.

However, calm appeared to be the order of the day.

Margaret Pilane was one of the customers who were waiting to get inside the Dis-Chem pharmacy at Randridge Mall, Johannesburg. The store allowed only 50 people inside at a time.

“I’ve been waiting for about 10 minutes but I’m not too agitated because they have explained to us why. And this way they are making means to protect us,” she said.

Pilane is one of the many shoppers who rushed to the stores in the morning hoping to buy all they need ahead of the stay-home instruction.

She said she normally took her grandchild with her to the shops but had decided against it this time around.

Some shoppers in the queue seemed impatient but all adhered to the restrictions imposed.

Communications and digital technologies minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams has announced plans to broadcast school lessons on TV during the lockdown.
Image: GCIS
Minister of communications and digital technologies Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams has announced that the government will broadcast school lessons to ensure that education continues during the Covid-19 lockdown.

She was briefing the media on Wednesday about the measures her department will be implementingnnounced by president Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday.

She said education in its traditional form had been affected, but making use of technology would help.

“We will be working with the department of education to provide broadcast and virtual classrooms. Our children are sitting at home playing cartoons, others are finishing food, but ours is to say: ‘How do we make sure that children can be in a classroom while in the comfort of their homes?'” said Ndabeni-Abrahams.South Africa is a religious country. It is in this context that the SABC and DStv … agreed that we will clear some channels to ensure that South Africans have an Easter Sunday broadcast,” she said.

“This will enable those who missed the opportunity to go to church to have their church in the comfort of their lounges.”

As for telecommunication mobile operators, the minister said they were playing ball and helping the government to encourage hope among citizens.

South Africa’s “Patient Zero” – the first person to test positive for the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) – and three others have now tested negative and have been sent home.

A fifth person, the wife of “Patient Zero”, was also sent home because she was asymptomatic.

KwaZulu-Natal Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane-Zulu announced this to members of the media at the Coastlands Umhlanga Hotel on Monday, where the government met with religious organisations.

“He (‘Patient Zero’) is out of the hospital and is free of the virus.He has no symptoms anymore and he has tested negative on two different occasions.”

Patients released

Simelane-Zulu added that two patients in Addington Hospital were released on Saturday.

“They were tested twice, and on both occasions, tested negative. The wife of patient zero has also gone home.”

She said that while the wife was not part of those who officially tested negative, she was sent home because she was asymptomatic.Simelane-Zulu added that a patient at a private facility was also discharged.

“He also no longer has symptoms…once the virus is picked up, there is hope and people can be treated.”

On 5 March, South Africa confirmed its first case – that of a 38-year-old Hilton man who had gone on holiday to Italy with his wife and eight friends.

Announcement

The man, his wife and their two children were isolated at home before he was transferred to Grey’s Hospital in Pietermaritzburg.At the time of publication, South Africa had 402 cases.

President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to make an announcement on Monday night on strict government measures to curb the spread of the virus.

Stay up to date and stay healthy

Being unable to meet this basic need can significantly alter the lives of those who are affected as they are forced to find alternative means, which may often pose health risks.

Having seen the need for sanitary products, particularly for young girls, Babalwa Mbuku (40) from Mthatha started her own sanitary pads company, Ntombam, in 2017. She was inspired by a young girl who once said she preferred to get free sanitary pads from government instead of a free education.Babalwa then decided to do her research in the Eastern Cape to assess how many schools and children have the same problem. “I discovered that around the Eastern Cape some children use pieces of cloth, aloe and others would use cow dung as sanitary pads to absorb the flow of their monthly menstruation due to high sanitary costs. None of those methods are good for sensitive areas,” she says.Ntombam imports the pads from South Korea and they are sold in 37 retail stores in the Eastern Cape and Western Cape. The company hopes to expand to other parts of the country. Ntombam also has sanitizers, wet wipes and a fashion label.

During her research, the 40-year-old business woman also noticed that many girls do not have proper panties to wear while others do not have them at all. She plans to address this issue soon. “We are planning to add one-size-fits all panties to our range of products,” she says.