Covid-19: Voting day declared free, fair and Covid-19 compliant

The IEC has declared that the 2021 Local Government Elections were indeed free and fair, while effort put in at voting stations across the country ensured that voters were kept as safe as possible when it came to Covid-19.

[RECAP] 2021 Municipal Elections Results Announcement I IEC Chairperson Glen Mashinini declared #LGE2021 free and fair! pic.twitter.com/bampQLmeTR

— IEC South Africa (@IECSouthAfrica) November 5, 2021

The IEC also did its part in ensuring voters, as well as its staff members, were safe on the day, following the necessary protocols to avoid the spread of Covid-19. Mandatory mask-wearing was enforced at all polling stations, and those who failed to comply were refused entry.

Voters were required to sanitise before and after casting their vote, while the low voter turnout inadvertently helped with social distancing. There were few reports or complaints on the lack of safety measures by the IEC on the day, and it was considered a safe voting experience for most.

With South Africans participating in the 2021 local government elections on November 1, the Department of Health took advantage of the day to set up vaccination sites at voting stations across the country. Those voting or accompanying voters would be able to get their Pfizer or Johnson & Johnson jab throughout the day. To encourage the unvaccinated, the department partnered with e-hailing taxi company Uber to offer the public two free rides to the value of R100 each to a vaccination site.

Covid-19 daily statistics

As of November 4, the cumulative number of Covid-19 cases stood at 2 923 054. The country is slowly approaching the 90 000 deaths mark, with 89 251 recorded in total. South Africa’s recovery rate stood at 96.3 per cent while 22 965 123 vaccines had been administered. Over 15 million people have had at least one dose, while 12 million are fully vaccinated.

As South Africa approaches the expected fourth wave of the pandemic, government is encouraging senior citizens to get vaccinated, and has offered grocery vouchers worth R100 to over-60s who get their jab from November 1. The voucher will be sent via SMS to the cellphone number used to register for vaccination, and is redeemable at Shoprite, Checkers and Usave stores across the country.

Healthcare workers to receive booster shots

Healthcare workers vaccinated under the Sisonke Study early in the year will be able to receive their booster shots from November 8. The Department of Health and the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) announced those who got the Johnson & Johnson vaccine will receive an invitation by SMS on the number they used to enrol for the first part of the study. As before, enrolment will be through the EVDS, and will include an informed consent form to be completed online. Sisonke booster vaccinations will be offered at selected sites to be announced in all nine provinces. Safety monitoring and evaluation of outcomes will be led by the SAMRC. Health workers who wish to take up this offer and have changed their cellphone numbers are advised to call the national hotline on 0800 029 999 so staff can update their contact details on the EVDS.

Government continues to urge citizens to get vaccinated, to minimise the effects of, and possibly avoid, the fourth wave of the pandemic.

Children aged 12 and above can register for vaccinations

Those aged 12 years and above are now eligible for the vaccine and do not need to register beforehand. They can go to any public vaccination site and will only be required to present their ID, passport, asylum or refugee number, while those aged between 12 and 17 can use their birth certificates. Vaccination sites are open throughout the week, with many open at weekends. The government is also holding pop-up vaccination sites at public places such as taxi ranks, shopping centres and even people’s places of work.