Communications minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams has paid an
admission of guilt fee of R1,000 after she was charged for “unlawfully and
intentionally” violating lockdown rules.
This came after a picture of Ndabeni-Abrahams emerged on social
media where she was seen dining at Mduduzi Manana’s house in violation of the
lockdown regulation which limited people’s movements and called for people to
stay at home.
President Cyril Ramaphosa suspended Ndabeni-Abrahams for
two months and announced that her salary would be docked for a month.
Ramaphosa also called for the law to take its course.In
charging Ndabeni-Abrahams, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said that
she had intentionally and unlawfully contravened lockdown rules after their
investigation revealed that she was not rendering any essential services when
she visited Manana’s house as he had claimed.
NPA’s Phindi Mjonondwane confirmed that Ndabeni-Abrahams
was scheduled to appear before the Pretoria District Court on May 22 on charges
of contravening the disaster management act.She said that the state had alleged
that Ndabeni-Abrahams had intentionally and unlawfully contravened lockdown
rules.
“This admission of guilt fine is as per determination by
senior magistrate for the Magisterial District of Tshwane where the amount of
R1,000 has been set for the offence of failure to confine oneself to his/her
place of residence,” Mjonondwane said.
“The state alleged that, on 5 April 2020, Ndabeni-Abrahams
unlawfully and intentionally failed to remain confined in her place of
residence by visiting Mr Mduduzi Mana’s place of residence. The investigation
revealed that the visit was not for purposes of rendering essential service or
obtaining essential goods, collecting a grant or seeking medical attention as
per requirement of the Covid-19 regulations.” Sowetan
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