For the period of lock down every person is confined to his or her place of residence, unless strictly for the purpose of performing an essential service, obtaining an essential good or service, collecting a social grant, or seeking emergency, life-saving, or chronic medical attention; every gathering, as defined in regulation 1 is hereby prohibited, except for funeral; movement between provinces is prohibited; and movement between the metropolitan and district areas, is prohibited.
You are thus not allowed to jog or walk you dog in the estate as there is no such exception specified in the Regulation.
Should you be outside of your place of residence / on the road and the SAPS stops you and you do not have a reason as those specified in the Regulation and /or a permit issued to allow you permission to do so, you will be arrested.
Also note that any person who contravenes these regulations shall be guilty of an offence and, on conviction, liable to a fine or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months or to both such fine and imprisonment. (Just a further note: should you be arrested to get released on bail is going to be a nightmare and an expensive process.)
Even if the Minister of Police makes a statement on National Television that you may walk you dog, the Regulation stands until it is officially amended. It is an open question whether the SAPS will in fact arrest you if caught outside of your place of residence / on the road.
I also don’t think the DHA should consider making rules that contravene the law.
Let us do this for ourselves and all in South Africa.
Article by Herman Waldick (Director)
