Durban – A couple, their families and wedding guests were arrested for allegedly organising and taking part in a wedding regardless of government Lockdown regulations banning large gatherings due to the outbreak of the coronavirus. Police officers and SANDF members got to the wedding and stopped it, arrested 53 people in eNseleni, outside Empangeni, this past weekend.
The arrests came after someone alerted the police that a wedding was taking place in the area.
According to sources, when the police arrived, the pastor was busy taking the couple through their marriage vows. “The police and soldiers were armed to the teeth and they stormed the tent where the wedding was taking place and arrested everyone,” said a source.
In a video shown below, the bride is seen in her wedding dress being led to a police van, and the groom is holding her dress.
The police van appeared to be from the eMpangeni police station.
The same video also shows the bridegroom getting into the police van, while other police vehicles take the arrested wedding guests to the police station.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Vishnu Naidoo confirmed the arrest of people for going against the regulations that were imposed during the lockdown by getting married or attending the wedding.
“We arrested 53 people, including the bridegroom, his bride and the pastor for violating the Disaster Management Act,” said Naidoo.
UMhlathuze Municipality also released a statement criticising the conduct of the couple and those who attended the wedding. The municipality said 76 people had been arrested since the lockdown for various violations of the regulations.
Mayor Mduduzi Mhlongo said it was disappointing that people were continuing to go against regulations.
“We arrested 50 people at an illegal wedding at eNseleni. We also arrested a pastor who was officiating at the ceremony and all those who were in attendance. We want to make an appeal to our people to listen to what the government is saying. The number of people infected with the coronavirus is increasing and that is why it is so important for people to stay at home. We commend those who have listened to the instructions,” said Mhlongo.
