President to quarantine volunteers: You showed us the true ‘Thuma Mina’
“You are our true heroes. Thank you.” This is how the President, Cyril Ramaphosa on Sunday morning thanked the group of volunteers who assisted the repatriated South African citizens from Wuhan, at The Ranch Resort outside Polokwane.
The resort was the official quarantine site for the South African group from China.
The group of South Africans will today go home after their quarantine period.
“Never was there a time where Thuma Mina has been shown more concretely. It was a mission executed with distinction and precision. For that, all these role players deserve a round of applause. Our country has never been through an exercise like this. You have truly made history,” the president said, thanking the SAA cabin crew, military and medical volunteers, and staff of the resort.
In declaring the resort a green zone, free of medical hazards, Ramaphosa reiterated that the country was facing a mammoth task.
“We must recognise that we are currently in the midst of the crisis. The virus is spreading throughout the nation. We must extra precautions to be safe and to ensure that we exercise social distance and wash our hands.”
He told volunteers to thank their families, who had sacrificed much during the 14-day quarantine period.
“Go home to your people, tell your families that we are grateful to them because they are the ones who allowed you to undertake this mission. You are our true heroes.”
Also speaking during the briefing was Captain Vusi Khumalo, the Chief Pilot of the flight that brought the citizens back to South Africa.
Introducing him, Limpopo Health MEC hailed Khumalo as a hero, to which he replied, “Everyone here is a hero”.
“When we got the call, we didn’t hesitate. Everybody did their best. It was a pleasure to serve the nation,” Khumalo stated.
The Limpopo Premier, Stan Mathabata during the briefing also thanked volunteers who assisted the group during the quarantine period. “Your names will be written in the history of our country, because you volunteered at a crucial time.”
Concluding events, Ramaphosa had the final word of gratitude for the group and their efforts: “I have your number, and I will remember who to call for our next mission. You will be on my speed dial.”
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