The second day of vaccination for members of the South African Police Service in Nelson Mandela Bay is progressing well, with more than 800 SAPS members having received their jabs since the vaccination drive launch that took place yesterday, July 8.
Provincial police spokesperson, Brig. Tembinkosi Kinana, said that SAPS Senior Management in the Eastern Cape have expressed their excitement at the willingness of foot soldiers during the vaccination drive that is currently taking place at Kemsley Park in Mount Road.
“The second day already started with numbers of police personnel queueing to get their jabs,” Kinana said this morning, July 9.
“Gqeberha is the first of the 15 districts in the province to receive the vaccine and the personnel are eager to get their jabs even on the second day. They take after the Provincial Commissioner of the Eastern Cape, Lt. Gen. Liziwe Ntshinga, who took her jab yesterday as the leader of the Police Force in the Eastern Cape,” he added.
Ntshinga was joined by MEC for Transport, Safety and Liaison, Weziwe Tikana-Gxothiwe and led SAPS members, Public Service Act members, reservists and interns in the vaccination drive in the province. The SAPS has 15 registered vaccination sites throughout the province where all members will be able to get their jabs.
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 roll-out 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,” she said.
Ntshinga echoed the similar positive sentiments of the MEC and was pleased with the number of police officers who turned up 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 continue with the mandate placed upon me to serve and protect the citizens of this country,” Ntshinga said.
“It is in the best interests and most beneficial to our members to protect themselves in the midst of this unpredictable killer virus. I urge all members and the communities to continue to sanitise, wear their masks and maintain a 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,” she added.
