A call-up of soldiers as proclaimed by the Commander-In-Chief, President Cyril Ramaphosa, to The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to strengthen the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic has taken to various streets of South Africa.

On Wednesday, 06 Maybe 2020, foot patrolling SANDF members were spotted on the streets of Vryburg. The soldiers walked about the crowded town’s Street in the mist of a busy week in the country where issues pertaining to social grants are being attended to by members of the community. The South African Police Service (SAPS) was also on the wings, enforcing and monitoring COVID-19 regulations compliance. The Soldiers and the Police seemed to have had specific focuses as far as such regulations were concerned. Law enforcement encouraged shoppers to continuously wear their masks while walking around town or while waiting to go into stores for essential shopping.

High compliance was observed as far as masks were concern, however there seemed to be low compliance with regards to social distancing. As per the Gazetted COVID-19 regulation of 29 April 2020, under the “General measures to contain the spread of COVID -19”, regulation number 5 (1) and (2) speaks to the need for the increased compliance of mask wearing in public. According to these regulations, “A person must wear a cloth face mask or a homemade item that covers the nose and mouth when in a public place, or another appropriate item to cover the nose and mouth and no person will be allowed to use any form of public transport, or enter a building, place or premises, if they do not wear a cloth face mask or a homemade item that covers the nose and mouth when in a public place, or another appropriate item to cover the nose and mouth.”

-The VIP Team

-Jus4tos Photography

-COGTA

-SANDF

-GCIS