NATIONAL NEWS - The state has been given two weeks to remove the criminal record of a KwaZulu-Natal man who was convicted of contravening the Covid-19 lockdown regulations.
The Nkandla Magistrate’s Court issued an order to the director general of Justice and Constitutional Development last Friday to instruct the head of the criminal records of the South African Police Services to remove Samukelo Knowledge Jili’s (26) criminal record.
He was arrested on April 8, 2020, in Nkandla and paid an admission of guilt fine of R1 500.
In support of the application, Jili said that just after 1 pm, he drove his grandmother’s minibus to Nkandla town to fill up with petrol at a garage. As he was driving, he came across a marked police van travelling in the opposite direction.
Jili said he noticed that the van suddenly made a U-turn and started following him. The driver of the van then flashed the vehicle’s headlights, alerting him to stop. He said he drove until he found a safe place to pull over.
“The driver of the van alighted and approached me,” said Jili.
One of the police officers boarded the taxi and occupied the front passenger seat next to Jili.
He said he was told by the officer to drive to the Nkandla Police Station and he complied.
At the police station, I was told I had operated a taxi outside the permissible hours during the lockdown.
It was the first time I had heard this and I wish to state that — had I been told this when I stopped next to the rank — I would have explained why I was on the road at that time.
“At the police station, I was told I was under arrest for contravention of lockdown regulations. I was then processed and transported to Babanango SAPS, where I was detained.”
The following day, said Jili, he was transported to the Nkandla Magistrate’s Court, where he was kept in a holding cell for more than three hours before a prosecutor went to him.
Jili said that the prosecutor said, “For your release, you have to pay R1 500.”
He said he paid the money, but later found out he had a criminal record.
He then appealed the matter in the Pietermaritzburg High Court, which sent the matter back to Nkandla.
