Mpumalanga Premier Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane, who came under fire for failing to wear a mask at Minster Jackson Mthembu’s funeral on Sunday, has paid an admission of guilt fine, and now has a criminal record.
Police minister Bheki Cele’s spokesperson Lirandzu Themba was quoted by EWN as saying: ‘The premier paid a J534 fine at a police station and was processed and her fingerprints were taken as per the normal South African Police Service process. This fine is known as an admission of guilt and results in a criminal record.’
Mtsweni-Tsipane, who was caught on camera without a mask, paid a fine of R1 500 at the police station in Emalahleni.
EWN reported that the premier at first tried to defend herself, with her spokesperson claiming it was human error and that Mtsweni-Tsipane didn’t realise that the mask had somehow fallen off her face. A huge public outcry prompted the premier to apologise, admit her guilt and pay the fine.
More than 13 000 people have reportedly been arrested for failing to wear a mask in public since the adjusted level three lockdown began.