Since lockdown began, seven people have been caught hiking inside the Cederberg Wilderness nature reserve and all were handed hefty fines.
Petro van Rhyn, spokesperson for CapeNature, said that they are working closely with the police to make sure the culprits are fined for disregarding lockdown rules.
‘Please note that all our reserves are closed to the public during the lockdown period. Entry for any purpose is expressly forbidden in terms of the current COVID-19 national lockdown regulations.
Anyone found to be in contravention of these regulations on CapeNature reserves will be guilty of a criminal offense and will be handed over to the police and be liable to a fine or imprisonment,’ CapeNature says on its website.
‘People entering reserves illegally are putting CapeNature staff and the greater community at risk by increasing their chances of exposure to the virus,’ Van Rhyn added.
Anyone found entering any of the reserves as a first offence is liable to a fine of R2,000 payable to CapeNature, as well as a fine of R2,500 to SAPS in line with lockdown rules.
For second time offenders, arrest and jail time are on the cards.
Source: News24
Image: Pixabay
