CHARLES MOLELE
THE Democratic Alliance has criticised President Cyril Ramaphosa over his failure to make tangible commitments that would ensure a rapid COVID-19 vaccine rollout.
The South African rollout of COVID-19 vaccine has been running far behind schedule and a total mess.
At the current rate, the country would need almost another one or two more years to meet its goal of inoculating 80 percent of the population against the coronavirus.
Analysts believe that the risk of the current delays with rolling out vaccinations is that it will give the virus more time to mutate in ways that potentially may make it even more deadly.
Responding to Ramaphosa’s state of the nation address, DA leader, John Steenhuisen, said this was once again a SONA of unworkable plans, empty promises and “sector master plans” developed by people who’ve never started or run a business before.
“He gave no commitment to a decentralized acquisition and distribution process that harnesses all South Africa’s available capabilities to get the job done in the fastest, most efficient way,” said Steenhuisen.
“South African lives and livelihoods will be lost unnecessarily as the virus continues to spread though the population in successive waves and as the government continues to use the blunt instrument of blanket restrictions to try to control it.”
The need for vaccines in South Africa has never been more urgent.
The Department of Health has reported 2 488 new COVID-19 cases, pushing the number of total infections to 1 484 900 in the past 24 hours.
There have been a further 237 COVID-19 related deaths in the country, bringing the national death toll to 47 382 – and caseloads continue to rise.
The total number of recoveries stands at 1 377 980.
Ramaphosa, however, is optimistic about the vaccine rollout programme despite recent shambles and serial incompetence of his administration and ministers.
He said the first phase SA’s vaccination programme, which is targeted at health and other front-line workers, is set to be implemented soon.
“We have secured 9 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine,” Ramaphosa announced.
“The first batch, of 80,000 doses, will arrive in the country next week. Further consignments will arrive over the next four weeks, totalling 500,000 Johnson & Johnson vaccines. All provinces have roll-out plans in place as the first vaccines come through. I wish to thank all provinces for their level of preparedness for this massive undertaking that we are about to embark upon.”
Steenhuisen said South Africa’s vaccine rollout will be neither rapid nor efficient.
“He gave no commitment to a decentralized acquisition and distribution process that harnesses all South Africa’s available capabilities to get the job done in the fastest, most efficient way,” said Steenhuisen.
He also failed to commit to using only established service providers with a track record of delivery for the vaccine distribution, said Steenhuisen.
“So the risk remains that BEE will be used as a vehicle for ANC cronies to steal vaccine funds under the cover of “transformation”,” he said.
“Given their looting of R13 billion of PPE funds, Ramaphosa should have taken every precaution possible to ensure that 100% of vaccine funds are spent on protecting the public, and that means dropping BEE from the process. Already the ANC’s business arm, the ironically named Progressive Business Forum, is lobbying for its members, who fund the ANC, to get a share of vaccine supply contracts.”
He added: “A paltry 80 000 J&J vaccines with more being drip-fed in similar small batches means SA is on our hands and knees picking up the scraps because we didn’t bother to get in the vaccine queue. And Ramaphosa gave no assurance that negotiations have been entered into with every single reputable vaccine supplier so that regulatory approvals for all can get underway soonest. His government remains the bottleneck to acquisition.”
(Source: INSIDE POLITICS)