Onlookers were left with gaping mouths after they witnessed armed men rob a Covid-19 vaccination station in Soshanguve, Tshwane, on Saturday morning and made off with tablets and cellphones.
Witnesses said at about 09:00 five armed men arrived at Wonder City Taxi Rank in a white Toyota Quantum, where they pounced on the vaccination station and robbed staffers of their valuables.
Reacting to the astonishing turn of events, the Gauteng Department of Health on Sunday said, “it condemns in the strongest possible terms the attack on Tshwane District vaccination team yesterday”.
The department said the “perpetrators fled with vaccination programme gadgets” that included three tablets, one smartphone, and six ordinary cellphones belonging to staff.
The department also revealed that last week on Monday, a West Rand Health District Services bakkie carrying vaccination mobile site equipment and gazebos was hijacked in Chamdor, Kagiso.
“The cases of robbery for both incidents have been opened at Soshanguve and Kagiso police stations,” said the health department.
“Fortunately, no team members were harmed in both cases and counselling will be provided to the affected staff.”
The health department said these “senseless acts” were occurring at a time when the province was trying to ramp up the vaccination programme to counter the spike in new Covid-19 cases.
More vaccination sites were being opened in all the districts in order to vaccinate as many people as possible.
“Our healthcare workers remain the backbone of the health system, even during the pandemic as they continue to play a pivotal role in terms of vaccination programme rollout,” said the health department.
“We call on all members of society to work with law enforcement agencies and to share any information they might have on the two incidents.”
No arrests have been made yet.
