Bride, Groom & 50 Guests Arrested For Wedding During South Africa’s Lockdown

Facebook / Umhlathuze Municipality

According to several news sources in South Africa – and the local municipality, a bride and her groom have been arrested for violating the social distancing and lockdown order imposed by the government.

Throughout the world, a majority of households are under some form of lockdown order due to the current Novel Coronavirus, COVID-19, pandemic.

Because of how the virus transmits very quickly between individuals in close contact, most of the nations under lockdown have imposed strict social distancing orders.

According to a BBC report, the local authorities in uMhlathuze Municipality got tipped off about the wedding taking place in KwaZulu-Natal on Sunday, April 5th, 2020.

The municipality reports that 50 people were arrested and booked at a local police station. That was just the wedding guests. Also arrested were the bride, groom, and pastor who conducted the ceremony.

The entire group was scheduled to be formally charged on Monday, April 6th, 2020. No updates have been given as to what happened during that court appearance.

The story has been circulated widely on social media with even the local municipality sharing images of the arrest and warning others about violating the social distancing guidelines.

South Africa has imposed some of the strictest lockdown measures imposed by any country which includes a ban on buying alcohol and cigarettes with only the most-essential movement allowed.

The BBC report says “South Africa’s response to the pandemic has been ruthlessly efficient.” 

Watch a full news report from South African broadcasting network eNCA below along with a viral video of the bride being loaded into a police vehicle.

Want to save this article?

Get this sent to your inbox, plus, get new articles & videos from us every week!

Sponsors / Partners


Interested in becoming a partner?

Contact us for more info

Unapologetically Country

Receive daily updates with the best country music videos, news, and more!