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South African giants Kaizer Chiefs announced that football manager Bobby Motaung had been suspended for allegedly violating COVID-19 safety regulations during the nation’s lockdown period.

The club said that the action was part of its policies and continuous process of monitoring the public conduct of its members, players, and staff.

“This is a result of a number of videos circulating on social media wherein the Football Manager is seen taking part in festivities during what looks like the lockdown period. The Club has been involved in the internal processes of investigating his conduct, which led to the decision to suspend him,” a statement issued by the Chiefs on Tuesday said.

The Chiefs said Motaung’s suspension takes immediate effect up to and including August 31, 2020. It added that he will not be allowed to accompany the team to any training session or scheduled matches.

Though Motaung had tested negative for COVID-19 four times during the club’s mandatory tests, he has been ordered to remain at home and self-quarantine during this period.

“This is in line with the rules and regulations of the Club according to the protocols that we have put in place,” the statement added.

“The Club reaffirms its stance to all stakeholders of our commitment to play an exemplary role to assist in the fight against the spread of the pandemic.”

The Chiefs’ swift action comes ahead of a planned resumption of football in the country on August 8 after suspension in March.

The season will resume in a bio-bubble in Gauteng province which was selected to host all the 32 teams from the Absa Premiership and the GladAfrica Championship. Players and staff involved in the restart of the season are expected to have entered the bubble by August 7 having undergone two COVID-19 tests prior to their entry.

South Africa is Africa’s worst affected nation by the COVID-19 pandemic. It has so far reported more than 520,000 confirmed cases and more than 8,800 deaths.