President Cyril Ramaphosa says while the majority of South Africans continue to respect the rules of the lockdown and the rights of others, there are some among who are seeking to exploit COVID-19 crisis for their own sinister ends.

Ramaphosa made the comments in his weekly newsletter “From the Desk of the President’ to the nation on Monday.

The President says since he declared a nationwide lockdown, majority of South Africans have responded with patience and understanding despite the considerable hardship.

“There is a common appreciation that the measures that have been enforced since Friday 27 March are in the best interests of all.”

But Ramaphosa says there are others who have sinister motives.

“It is despicable that criminals are using this period of the lockdown as a cover to break the law at a time when our law-enforcement authorities are occupied with supporting the national effort to contain the pandemic. Unfortunately, criminals are also preying on the weak and vulnerable.”

Ramaphosa says vandalism of public property and key economic infrastructure will not be tolerated and has called upon communities to play their part in reporting such acts, because they seldom take place in the absence of witnesses.

Faizel Patel 

(Twitter: @FaizelPatel143)