EFF STATEMENT ON NOTICE AND ITS WITHDRAWAL REGARDING THE VACCINATION OF 'SPECIAL GROUPS'
Tuesday, 6 July 2021
The EFF notes first the circular released by the National Department of Health through the office of the Director General, Dr Sandile Buthelezi stating that the vaccination of what it notes as special groups, will commence and will be expedited ahead of priority groups and the rest of the country awaiting their turn to be vaccinated. These so-called Special Group include but not limited to Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Premiers, MECs, direct staff of mentioned officials, individuals where vaccination is requested by presidency, Minister of Health and or the Director General of Health.
The EFF subsequently notes the retraction thereof by the National Department of Health, The Minister of Health Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane and the office of the Director General, Dr Sandile Buthelezi; stating that the communique is withdrawn on condition that, "the circular is unclear in its intentions". The EFF categorically states that there is nothing unclear about the communique that sought to prioritize politicians and those with close links to them in their office, family members, spouses and girlfriends and boyfriends when the country is lagging behind with general vaccination of the population.
It is embarrassingly shameful that the retraction is premised on failure to having communicated the intention when there is nothing redeemable about the ANC government blatantly failing to vaccinate and protect our people from death, and rather prioritizing their lives over the people's lives. This tendency speaks to the already inherent and abhorring character of the ANC to steal from the people, care for themselves and their family members, whilst the rest of the people they are meant to govern and serve languish to poverty and lack of access to quality healthcare as is a right enshrined in the Bill of Rights in our Constitution.
The EFF calls on the Acting Minister of Health, Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane, to desist from protecting herself by throwing her executive under the bus. A communique of this magnitude, that seeks to undermine the efforts and fight against covid-19 could not have been done without her knowledge. If Acting Minister of Health insists that the circular was sent without her knowledge, an investigation should be pursued to hold the Director General, Dr Sandile Buthelezi accountable for running the National Department of Health on behalf of the Minister without her knowledge.
The EFF reiterates its call to the National Department of Health and the administration of President Cyril Ramaphosa that should ensure that vaccines are procured, secured and this not limited to Johnson and Johnson and Pfizer manufacturers as this has slowed down the process of ensuring mass vaccination of our people and subsequently their livelihoods and their precious lives.
The only prioritization of 'Special Groups' that will be accommodated is one that is inclusive of cashiers, taxi drivers and public transport personnel, miners who to date the scope of covid19 regulations isn't inclusive of, petrol attendants, domestic workers and the entire cohort of essential workers. ANC Politicians who have failed to save the lives of our people but instead stole from them during a global pandemic should be the last in the queue to get vaccinated against Covid-19.
Statement issued by the EFF, 6 July 2021
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