𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝟮𝟯 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟭. Last year, Carte Blanche reported on allegations of unwarranted brutality and violence when police arrested people for breaking COVID-19 lockdown regulations. Now, we revisit the dilemma of at least 400,000 South Africans arrested for offences ranging from not wearing masks to allegedly breaking curfew. Many spent time behind bars or paid hefty fines of up to R5000, and several, still, were let go with the option of signing an admission of guilt. At the time, it helped them not spend time in police custody. But in the long run, it’s saddled them with criminal records that are hampering life as they know it – with no indication from government on whether these might be expunged after the pandemic. #CarteBlanche