On October 1, 2021, the president of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa led the launch of Vooma Vaccination Weekend, which embarked at DH Williams Hall in Katlehong.
The president was joined by the minister of Home Affairs Dr Aaron Motswaledi, Members of Faith-Based Organisations, Traditional leaders and the City of Ekurhuleni’s executive mayor Mzwandile Masina.
During the course of the launch, the mayor of Ekurhuleni took his second jab of the Pfizer vaccine as he was number 79 on the list of people who were recommended to take the vaccine at DH Williams Hall.
The Vooma Vaccinate weekend drive is a government programme that is instituted to accelerate the vaccination process in South Africa as possible before the start of the anticipated fourth wave of COVID.
The president thanked health workers for their continued hard work to keep South Africans healthy, the taxi industry, Faith based organisations and all other various organisations that continue to support government efforts.
“Here we have vaccinated nine hundred and thirty eight thousand people ( 938 000). In this weekend we want to reach millions of people with our vaccination drive here at the City of Ekurhuleni. Go out there tell your friends, family and colleagues to vaccinate, because the sooner they vaccinate, the easier it will be for the country to come out of this state of disaster. People will be able to travel safe, go back to work and do their other recreational activities. And please do not listen to those who are against vaccines who say if you vaccine as a woman you won’t be able to have children. People have been vaccinated and they live normal lives,” said Ramaphosa .
According to President Cyril Ramaphosa, over 8.6 million people are fully vaccinated, which is more than one-fifth of the adult population, and to date over 17 million vaccine doses have been administered in the country.
During this launch, the president visited Natalspruit Taxi Rank where he interacted with passengers, drivers and community members encouraging them to vaccinate and vote on the upcoming elections. The president was expected to visit Phola Park clinic and Mandela section. It was liaised that the community of Mandela, not far from Natalspruit Taxi Rank where the president was at was protesting barricading roads with burning tyres and stones for the lack of service delivery in their area. The president ended his campaign trail at the taxi rank without going to Phola Park Clinic and Mandela Section.
By Lubabalo Roro
