DA wants COVID-19 vaccine plan debated before the new year

The Democratic Alliance (DA) wants Parliament to reconvene before South Africa ushers in the new year, to debate the COVID-19 vaccination plan.

President Cyril Ramaphosa announced in his latest address to the nation on Monday, 28 December 2020, that the country had managed to pay the R327 million required towards the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) COVAX facility.

Ramaphosa said the country will be amongst the first in line to receive the ground-breaking treatment.

The DA has written to National Assembly speaker Thandi Modise, asking her to grant their request for the emergency meeting before Friday, 1 January 2021.

The United Kingdom and United States (US) are amongst the first to receive a vaccine for the respiratory virus, but South Africa may only get its batch after March 2021.

COVID-19 vaccine: South Africans may be left behind, says DA

The official opposition wants Ramaphosa to give clarity on the country’s efforts towards securing the vaccine and said it was concerned that government may fail at this.

“Coupled with reports that South Africa missed its second payment deadline for the World Health Organisation’s vaccination programme; indications of large-scale PPE-corruption; and our government’s generally poor track record when it comes to delivery, it is not unreasonable to be concerned that South Africans will be left behind while the rest of the world opens up their now Covid-free economies and resume normal life in 2021,” said the DA’s Chief Whip Natasha Mazzone.

However the COVID-19 vaccine isn’t all it wants MPs to debate and wants to also place focus on other critical issues including the controversial SAA bailout, which was granted by National Treasury.

“We believe that an urgent debate of national importance will allow members of Parliament to critically engage cabinet ministers such as Tito Mboweni, Zweli Mkhize, and Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma on their respective Departments’ plans and the alternatives they considered,”

DA Chief Whip Natasha Mazzone

The party added that the debate can easily be held in a virtual plenary before the clock ticks into the new year.

“As we approach the new year South Africans deserve to know the truth about the government’s vaccination plans and what awaits our nation in 2021. We can not afford to get locked into a cycle of lock-downs that damage our economy and destroys lives and livelihoods,” she said.



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