The number of police officers infected with Covid-19 has
more than doubled in just eight days. Last Thursday, 103 police officers had tested positive for
the virus.
On Friday, Police Minister Bheki Cele said 253 were
infected with "this invisible enemy that is attacking our members".
He was addressing a joint meeting of the Portfolio
Committee on Police and the Select Committee on Security and Justice.
"It is going to be much darker before it is bright. We
hope our members will survive this time, we hope our members are going to be
there to be part of the frontline to defend the rest of South Africa,"
Cele said.
He added police officers were highly mobile, often moving
between provinces, but this might need to change as it could harm their health.
"Things will never be the same after Covid-19. Indeed,
life has changed. Never thought criminals would transport drugs and alcohol in
the coffins," Cele said.
Earlier on Friday, he told the committees the police have
arrested a lot of people for smuggling cigarettes and alcohol, saying he had
seen cases where people said they were crossing provincial borders to attend
funerals, but then the police find alcohol and drugs in the coffins. News24
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