Officials who are set to be vaccinated, include officials from the private security company, G4S, from the Mangaung Prison Centre. On Tuesday the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, minister Ronald Lamola, launched the vaccination programme. The department has set up 90 approved vaccination sites at Correctional Centres across the country. The FS/NC DSC spokesperson, Josial Ramokoena, says they are happy that the vaccination of officials will commence on Wednesday.

Josial Ramokoena.Videographer: Kekeletso Mosebetsi/OFM News

Meanwhile, the Department of Health in the province will also on Wednesday play a supporting role in the vaccination programme. The department's spokesperson, Mondli Mvambi, says the DCS is working directly with them to accelerate the momentum of the vaccination programme.

Mondli Mvambi. Videographer: Kekeletso Mosebetsi/OFM News

OFM News previously reported that the Inter-provincial Department of Correctional Services (DCS), both in the Free State and the Northern Cape, are targeting to vaccinate at least 90% of its inmates and 67% of officials.

The vaccination programme of both inmates and DSC officials will also start in Kimberley in the Northern Cape on Wednesday.

Ramokoena previously said the vaccination drive of inmates commenced on Monday, whilst the officials are set to receive their Johnson & Johnson doses. Some inmates are said to have already received their vaccinations a while back, owing to their ages, as envisaged by the Department of Health. According to Ramokoena, Grootvlei has the biggest offender population and they intend to jab both officials and inmates on 7 August 2021 to reach herd immunity, also known as population immunity.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi and Lucky Nkuyane