I fully agree with Jewbacca and others that we as cyclists most definitely do not feature on the governments list on concerns right now. There are much more important things to worry about than a bunch of lycra clad people wanting to work on their tan lines. Furthermore, I find it rather shocking that some people feel that should we given some freedom, it should be without any limitations. If the government gives us permission to ride and they say wear a face mask, dont venture further that 20 km from your home then that is the rule. Throwing a bitch fit is not going to change the decision. It is what it is. Make it work. I for one have complied with lock down rules so far except on one occasion. I have left my home on four occasions, 3 times to visit a supermarket and once illegally albeit for a noble cause.......... One of my employees let me know that he had lost his bank card. I am trying to pay my employees a portion of their wages even though they are sitting at home and our business is standing idle. I went and drew his cash and took a drive to the township where he lives. I was terrified of being stopped by the SAPS on my way to his house and I just hoped that should I be stopped, they would be lenient as I was trying to help somebody. Shock No 1: Life seemed to be continuing as normal in the township, people were loitering around standing in groups. Apparently it is business as usual. It honestly looked like a normal day there. Shock No 2: I entered the street on my employee and stopped at his house. All of a sudden from everywhere, teenagers appeared and proceeded to play a soccer match in the street. I asked my employee where they had appeared from, he explained that the soccer match had been in process but they had a chappy posted as a lookout on the corner of the street. When I entered the street in my unfamiliar car, he sounded the alarm and everyone scattered. As soon as the coast was clear, they reappeared on continued with the match. The same rule applies to any car entering the street. Shock No 3: I paid the chap and left. It was probably about 15h00. At about 19h00 I received a please call me from this employee. I immediately called back. He answered, absolutely plastered, music blaring in the background, people laughing and sounding like there is a massive party on the go. I asked him where he was. In a tavern he replied. I explained to him that taverns are meant to be closed. He told me that it doesn't work like that in his township. You just use a back entrance. I asked him if the cops dont raid the place, he said no, the owner is very well connected, the cops wont dare to bother him and in any case there arent many people at the tavern at any given time So ja...... Here I am, sitting at home obeying the rules whereas it appears as if the rules dont apply to everyone. I have absolute sympathy for the fact that many township inhabitants cannot sit at home on their comfortable sofa and watch the 30th rerun of snakes in the city on DSTV . But I dont know how effective the lock down is and will be if people just disregard the rules and laws.
