Minister Motshekga welcomes EC vaccination progress

Author: Dineo Matroko
Date: 12 July 2021

Basic Education Minister, Angie Motshekga recently visited three Eastern Cape Department of Education vaccination sites as part of monitoring the vaccine rollout in the country.

The minister accompanied by the Eastern Cape Education MEC, Fundile Gade started their morning sites visit at Sterling High, then Mzomhle High in Mdantsane and later Buffalo Flats its Primary School.

Minister Motshekga was also joined by local sector stakeholders who included School Governing Body Association representatives, unions and senior departmental officials.

The visit was meant to also encourage and monitor the smooth vaccination of teachers and non-teaching staff in the sector.

South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU) provincial secretary, Chris Mdingi said the initiative deserved quite an applaud. This is because according to Mdingi, the department is making sure that teachers are prioritised.

“We are proud of how the department has made sure that teachers are taken care of during this pandemic,” said Mdingi.

He (Mdingi) also applauded the minister’s visit. “It means that the minister and the whole education ministry values people’s lives and we cannot not mention how pleased we are that the minister has made sure that people’s lives are saved.” added Mdingi.

Welcoming the Minister was MEC Fundile Gade, who reported that the province had two arears of concern during this vaccination period, but were swiftly attended to.

“There was a shortage of doses that was quickly attended to by the Department of Health. Secondly, we have around 67000 people to vaccinate, despite that, there are people who the system could not pick up as we are targeting to vaccinate everyone by the time the schools reopen”, shared Gade.

In addressing concerns by parents that the learners should be vaccinated as well, the MEC stated that according to studies by the Health department, ‘children are not that much affected by the virus' but a plan is in place for such.

“Our main areas of concern in terms of district vaccination process are Queenstown, Port Elizabeth and the OR Tambo. Attending to these will ensure that we get as much output as we can as the Education Sector” said Gade.

Minister Angie Motshekga was pleased with the province’s rollout progress.

“Eastern Cape is almost done with the vaccination process of teachers and non-teaching staff.

The provincial leadership has to make sure that all those that are not registered on the persal system such as the SGB teachers and gardeners are before the schools reopen”, the minister said.

The minister also thanked the teachers in rural arrears for taking the department into their confidence.

“Some teachers had to drive four hours to the vaccination centres and this proves their willingness to work with the department. They have joined hands with us to make sure lives are saved and for that, we are grateful.

We call upon those who have not been vaccinated due to various reasons, to come and get vaccinated soonest.” concluded Motshekga.