Police Minister General Bheki Cele led the start of the mass vaccination rollout programme that would target the country’s police force. The rollout was launched at the Orlando Stadium in Soweto on Monday morning where Cele was joined by acting Minister of Health Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane and SAPS National Commissioner, Khehla Sitole amongst others.
SAPS members also came out in their numbers to get a jab of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Addressing media, Cele said he was encouraged by the optimism.
“It is a very good morning for the SAPS family,” he said.
“We are pleased when we see the number of our officers who came out to get vaccinated. We hope to vaccinate as many as possible over time and hope that the rollout is speedy because on top of vaccination, we still have to fight crimes like theft, and ensure that lockdown rules are respected.”
Cele was also joined by Police and Civil Rights Union. Its president, Zizamele Cebekhulu said officers were optimistic.
“We are very happy with the response, our members are optimistic,” Cebekhulu said.
Cele revealed that the SAPS intended to vaccinate at least 180 000 of its members across its nationwide 208 registered vaccination site by Thursday. More than 30 000 police officers members have tested positive for covid-19.
Cele further urged the public to continue to follow lockdown regulations. Asked by journalists on the SAPS’s failure to arrest the more than 100 protesters who flocked to Nkandla in defence of former President, Jacob Zuma over the weekend, Cele said the police were right not to engage the protesters.
“There were many women and children and the police had to take a step back. We all learn, we have learnt through Marikana,” Cele responded.
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