Mourners at Andrew Mlangeni funeral will not be charged for breaching lockdown regulations
The NPA will not pursue charges after mourners crowded around the coffin of struggle stalwart Andrew Mlangeni outside his home without practising social distancing in July this year.
Police Minister Bheki Cele said a case was opened at the Orlando police station after Mlangeni’s funeral in July.
Responding to EFF MP Brian Madlingozi’s written parliamentary question this week, Cele said the case was immediately investigated.
“A criminal case was opened at Orlando Police Station on 30 July, for the contravention of the Disaster Management Act, regulating the number of attendees at a funeral. The case was investigated and presented to the senior prosecutor at the Orlando Magistrate’s Court who declined to prosecute,” he said.
He added that the prosecutors said: “The alleged event was spontaneous. The suspect did not invite the mourners and had no control over them.”
The events sparked debate and led to criticism, and the ANC’s national executive committee apologised and expressed regret for the breach of lockdown regulations, which included physical distancing and the prohibition of gatherings of more than 50 people.
President @CyrilRamaphosa declared a Special Official Funeral Category 1 as a mark of respect for Isithwalandwe/Seaparankoe Ntate Andrew Mlangeni for his outstanding contribution and selfless sacrifice to the South African struggle for liberation. #RIPAndrewMlangeni pic.twitter.com/Ubc9dFUUNS
— Minister of Transport |Mr Fix (@MbalulaFikile) July 29, 2020
The ANC said only a select number of leaders had been deployed by the party and that the rest were people who had lined the streets in Mlangeni’s honour.
Social distancing was not the only allegation of the contravention of lockdown regulations at Mlangeni’s funeral.
Three South African National Defence Force (SANDF) members were caught on camera lighting cigarettes and smoking.
At the time, the sale of cigarettes was prohibited, but smoking was not a crime.
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