EASTERN CAPE – It was all systems go this morning at Kemsley Park in Gqeberha when the MEC for Community Safety, Mrs Weziwe Tikana-Gxothiwe and the Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service, Lieutenant General Liziwe Ntshinga led SAPS members, Public Service Act members, reservists and interns in the vaccination drive in the Province.
The Provincial launch in the Nelson Mandela Bay metro saw 507 SAPS personnel and PSA members being immunised. The SAPS has 15 registered vaccination sites throughout the province where all where all our members will be able to get their jabs.
MEC for Community Safety, Mrs Weziwe Tikana-Gxothiwe encouraged every member of the SAPS to take the vaccine to protect themselves, their families and the community. “The vaccination drive will also be rolled out to other law enforcement officers including metro police officers. I am very pleased with the choice of venue for the Province’s rollout as the venue is conducive to all COVID 19 protocols and most importantly the social distancing that must be observed. As government we are committed to saving lives and especially during this pandemic, the only effective way to ensure safety is to urge everyone to vaccinate,” added Mrs Weziwe Tikana-Gxothiwe.
The Provincial Commissioner, Lt Gen Liziwe Ntshinga echoed the similar positive sentiments of the MEC. Lt Gen Ntshinga was pleased with the number of police officers who turned out to take their jabs. ‘As leaders, we are here to show our members that we are concerned for their safety therefore we were the first to get vaccinated. The COVID 19 pandemic has taken a huge toll on our members and we have lost almost 128 members to this cruel virus. I was one of its first targets however by the grace of God, I am now able to stand up and lead my members and to continue with the mandate placed upon me to serve and protect the citizens of this country. This launch today, is the beginning of a process which will continue throughout the Province. It is in the best interests and most beneficial to our members to protect themselves in the midst of this unpredicted killer virus. I urge all members and the communities to continue to sanitise, wear their masks and maintain social distance at all times. I am proud of the number of members that have heeded and are taking the opportunity to protect themselves and I further encourage and urge our men and women in blue to visit the designated sites and get vaccinated ,’ added Lt Gen Ntshinga.
It was encouraging to see that disabled members who were wheelchair bound as well as a blind member being part of the numbers that were queuing up to be vaccinated.
Day two of the Provincial launch will continue tomorrow, 9 July at the same venue where a further 500 members will be vaccinated. Members were encouraged to take the vaccine to reduce the number of infections and deaths within the ranks of the SAPS and Public Service Act personnel.
Source: South African Police Service