SA athlete facing fine for alleged lockdown contravention

News24
24 May 2020, 04:10 GMT+10

A South African long jumper has reportedly been charged for allegedly contravening coronavirus lockdown regulations, media reports said on Friday.

The 2017 world champion and 2016 Olympic silver medallist, Luvo Manyonga, was ordered to pay a R2 500 admission of guilt fine or appear in court, AFP reported.

According to a police notice, Manyonga was charged under lockdown regulations for "failure to confine himself in his place of residence and public drinking", the reports said.

The written notice said Manyonga was allegedly caught at Thubelitsha Park in Kayamandi‚ Stellenbosch‚ on Wednesday, TimesLive and EWN reported.

Police spokesperson Sergeant Noloyiso Rwexana said: "A 29-year-old man was given a notice to appear in court for contravening Disaster Management Act regulations on Wednesday."

The man, who she did not name, is expected to appear in court on 29 June.

According to AFP, Manyonga, who won the 2011 under-20 world championships, battled a crystal meth addiction which resulted in him being slapped with an 18-month ban from athletics in 2012.

He beat his addiction in 2015 and resumed competing.

Manyonga had his best season in 2017, pushing the South African record to 8.65m and then lifting the world crown in London.

He failed to defend his title in Doha last year, settling for fourth with a best jump of 8.28m.

News24's additional attempts to get comment from Manyonga's agency on Friday were unsuccessful.

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