Police Minister Bheki Cele is asking South Africans to do the right thing and spare themselves a criminal record.
He says police have arrested thousands for breaking new Level 3 Lockdown regulations.
He said that since level 3, the mask has become mandatory.
It is a criminal record not to wear the mask.
He said that officers can take you to the police station and take your fingerprints. Where you are given a choice to pay the fine or, you choose to see the magistrate. Both processes will give you a criminal record.
The minister hopes the arrests will stop citizens from breaking the law.
Meanwhile, the Department of Health confirmed 13,105 new COVID-19 cases in South Africa.
SA’s death toll is at 34,334 after the department reported 755 more COVID-19 related deaths.