STOP ABUSE OF POWER

When government announced the deployment of members of the security forces to ensure compliance with the partial lockdown directives aimed at curbing the outbreak of the coronavirus, members of the business community were also assured they could operate if they observed the laid out hygiene and physical distancing guidelines.

However, some members of the business community were shocked to be forced to close without valid reasons. Several of them reported being subjected to humiliating treatment by rude and vulgar officers who seemed keen to flaunt their new-found powers to act as they deemed fit. Reports of police using excessive force unnecessarily have also been received. This is totally unacceptable and they must be called to order.

Lockdown

When the partial lockdown was introduced, the statement issued by Commerce, Industry and Trade Minister Manqoba Khumalo was unambiguous. He listed 26 business sectors expected to operate while those businesses that did not fall within the specified sectors were encouraged to scale down by minimising their operating hours. He said it was businesses that could not comply with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Ministry of Health guidelines that were expected to close until the situation normalised. So why the confusion and ill-treatment?

The head of government, who is the minister in charge of police, needs to come out and give direction as well as rein in the behaviour of his charges. What the security forces need to comprehend is that the partial lockdown allowing businesses to operate runs parallel to calls for people to remain home. This requires a balancing act where businesses ought to be allowed to have customers during the normal working hours. 

Responsibility

In this regard, the responsibility lies with shop owners to comply with the social distancing and health requirements to avoid posing a health risk to the public. Those who refuse to do so deserve to be charged accordingly. However, this process should be carried out humanely. While we all deserve to be kept safe from the harm that the coronavirus is causing, worldwide, we cannot allow ourselves to be harmed by those entrusted to protect us.

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