The province is the third-lowest in the country with regard to vaccinated people. The provincial Department of Health in the province aims to vaccinate 2.7 million people by 31 December. 

The provincial spokesperson, Tebogo Lekgethwane, tells OFM News that one of the reasons why Mabuza is on this campaign drive is to get as many people as possible in the Bojanala district with its vast population to get the jab. Lekgethwane says Mabuza is flanked by ministers and mayors who are also travelling to different parts of the province to encourage people to get vaccinated in order for the country to reach the targeted population immunity.

“So, if we are to get people to get vaccinated, most of them should come from Bojanala, that is why they are here - particularly Rustenburg, Madibeng and Moses Kotane, as well as Kgetleng River Local Municipality. We have about five teams of ministers, MECs, and mayors who are deployed across the province,” he adds.

According to the provincial Health Department, at least 753 496 vaccines have been administered.

Lekgethwane says work towards ensuring that the province reaches the targeted population immunity continues to remain key. In this regard, the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Covid-19 Vaccines, chaired by Deputy President Mabuza, has undertaken to visit all the identified provinces to provide oversight support and strengthen the vaccination rollout programme towards achieving the set targets.  

“Currently, the North West Province has reportedly achieved a vaccination coverage of about 20.1% of the targeted population, placing it as the third-lowest performing province. The Bojanala District, which constitutes close to half of the total population of the North West, in particular, is currently the [province's] epicentre of the Covid-19 pandemic, thus necessitating the intervention by the Inter-Ministerial Committee.

"The visit will provide a platform to strengthen efforts aimed at ramping up the vaccination rollout programme across the province,” Lekgethwane adds.  

Deputy President Mabuza is flanked by other ministers, including Health Minister, Joe Phaahla, Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Thandi Modise, Minister of Social Development, Lindiwe Zulu, Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, and the newly elected North West Premier, Bushy Maape, among others.

OFM News