South African opposition politician Julius Malema has rubbished Police Minister Bheki Cele’s call for his fellow citizens to go to be in bed by 9 PM tonight and avoid celebrating New’s Eve outside because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Responding to Ekurhuleni mayor, Mzwandile Masina who had expressed confidence that the city’s residents will heed the call to stay at home in a post on Twitter, Malema said: “that madness won’t happen”. Wrote Malema:
President said we should celebrate at home, he never said we must sleep at 9 pm. That madness won’t happen, sleep well sir. I won’t do candles and won’t be sleeping at 9.
DJ Shimza had asked Masina if they are also being “forced” to be in bed by 9 PM in Ekurhuleni? Masina responded:
I will personally be in bed by 8:30 pm, I know the citizens of the @City_Ekurhuleni will heed President @CyrilRamaphosa’s call for us to all stay home and stay safe during this NYE period. We can reflect on the year 2020 over a Zoom call around 8 pm, how about that?
Speaking ahead of New Year at Princess Magogo Stadium in KwaMashu, outside Durban, on Wednesday, Cele warned that there would be consequences for individuals who break curfew or are drunk. He said:
There is no December 31st. There won’t be any hitting of tins here. By 9 o’clock everyone should be in bed. So it is important to note that for that to happen we [SAPS] need to monitor that.
Make sure that you lock them in! Usually, you help them and show them home. This time we will give them a home. Our stations may be full, but we will make room for them.