Vaccination team robbed in north of Pretoria

A team of healthcare workers was robbed in Soshanguve on Saturday morning, December 4.

The Tshwane district vaccination team was at the Wonder City taxi rank area to administer jabs, when five armed men ambushed them.

The incident took place around 09:00, said the department of health’s spokesperson, Kwara Kekana.

“Five armed men who were in a white Toyota Quantum at Wonder City taxi rank in Soshanguve robbed the vaccination team at gunpoint,” Kekana said.

“The perpetrators fled with vaccination programme gadgets which consist of three tablets, one smartphone and six cellphones belonging to the team.”

She said another incident took place last week in the West Rand, where a health district services bakkie was hijacked with mobile site equipment and gazebos in Chamdor, Kagiso.

Cases of robbery for both incidents have been opened at Soshanguve and Kagiso police stations.

“Fortunately, no team members were harmed in both cases and counselling will be provided to the affected staff,” Kekana said.

“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.

“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.”

She urged members of the community to share any information regarding these two incidents with the police.