The Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH) condemned two recent incidents where vaccination teams were targeted.

Gauteng Department of Health spokesperson Kwara Kekana explained the most recent attack happened in Soshanguve in the north of Pretoria on December 4 where five armed men robbed a Tshwane District vaccination team at gunpoint.

In another incident, a West Rand District Health Services bakkie was hijacked with mobile site equipment and gazebos in Chamdor, Kagiso on November 29.

She said that a case of robbery had been opened at the Kagiso police station. Fortunately, no team members were harmed.

Counselling will be provided to the affected staff in both incidents. These senseless acts occurred at a time when the province is ramping up the vaccination programme by activating more vaccination sites in all the districts in order to vaccinate as many people as possible.”

Kekana added that the health workers remain the backbone of the health system and play a pivotal role in the vaccination programme rollout.

“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.”