Following a protest organised by surfers in Muizenburg in the Western Cape on Tuesday 5 May, two local men have been arrested, with one making a daring dash for freedom on a bicycle.
Surfers in the area were protesting the fact that the new Level 4 lockdown laws do not permit them to catch waves between 6am and 9am, leaving them feeling left out as thousands of joggers, cyclists and walkers take to the boardwalks to get their exercise in.
Peaceful protest
Standing two-meters apart, surfers hoisted their boards upright displaying slogans and placards that bemoaned the restrictions placed on their community.
One man was arrested after officers took exception to his protest, saying that he was in contravention of the Disaster Management Act. He was put in the back of a police van and taken to the Muizenberg South African Police Service (SAPS) station.
SAPS spokesperson Seargent Noloyiso Rwexana said that another man was also arrested.
“Kindly be advise that Muizenberg police attended to a group of about 30 surfers who wanted to surf this morning, they were informed that it is against Disaster Management regulations to do so, others dispersed with no incidents of violence,” she said.
“Two men aged 52 and 65 were arrested and were released on warning to appear in court on 6 August 2020. There were no other arrests.”
One man was captured on video trying to high-tail it away from arresting officers on a bicycle.
Watch: Arrested surfer makes two-wheeled getaway in Muizenberg:
Surfers making waves
There have been several surfing-related arrests over the last six weeks of lockdown, with rule-breakers arrested in Jeffreys Bay, Kommetijie and Clifton.
Surfers feel aggrieved that they are not permitted to swim, paddle or surf during the allocated exercise window, saying that the rules make no sense.
“Surfers pitched up to protest on prom in the 6-9am window. SAPS advises them that they can’t stand still, they must be moving as it is the exercise window. Surfer doesn’t understand the command and remains still. He is arrested by a team of policemen,” said a Twitter user.
Tags: lockdownMuizenbergSAPSsurfing
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