South African police have arrested more than 7,000 people caught without face masks in public since the end of December, the government said yesterday. Officials made face coverings mandatory in May last year at the same time as they gradually eased movement restrictions imposed in March to stem coronavirus infections. Police Minister Bheki Cele said more than 20,000 people had been arrested or fined since December 29 for breaching the new rules, including 7,455 people detained for not wearing face masks.