The IFP has written to the speaker of the National Assembly, Hon. Thandi Modise, to request that she strongly consider our motion for a Debate of National Public Importance on the looming Covid-19 vaccination crisis in our country.
This Debate is warranted in terms of Rule 130(1), and calls for the House to debate this matter at its next available sitting.
We have called for this debate as Health Minister, Dr. Zweli Mkhize, announced the suspension of the Covid-19 Johnson & Johnson (J&J) vaccination on 13 April 2021. The J&J vaccine is currently being offered to members of the public.
We have noted with concern the alarmingly slow rate at which government – in conjunction with the Department of Health – has dealt with the phased roll-out of the vaccine.
This past weekend, it was reported that only 38 people had been vaccinated. The announcement of the suspension by the Health Minister does not bode well for the public, nor does it instil any confidence in our government’s ability to ensure that all South Africans will be safely inoculated by the end of this year.
We need to reach herd immunity, open our economy and kick-start our economic recovery. We need to restore travel, tourism and seek any investments that will assist us to get jobs, get our young people working and uplift the most vulnerable in our society, who have suffered due to the coronavirus pandemic. To do this, we need vaccinations.
This vaccination drive is key to getting South Africa back to work. We await a response from Speaker Modise in this regard.
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Contact:
Mkhuleko Hlengwa, MP
IFP National Spokesperson
071 111 0539
Mthokozisi Nxumalo, MP
IFP Deputy Whip in Parliament
072 819 5153