The North West Health has suspended three officials in Delareyville for allegedly denying black community members COVID-19 vaccines and reserving them for friends and family instead, reports TimesLIVE.
The white officials were suspended after complaints from the community about the apparent racism.
According to a department statement, “It is alleged they turned some of the members of the community away on several occasions, saying there are no vaccines, and after community members went back to their homes, they called those favoured into private offices to administer vaccines… It is alleged the white managers reserved vaccines for their families and friends.”
An investigation is under way.
SABC News reports that the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu), has weighed in on the matter with its Provincial Secretary is Patrick Makhafane saying the allegations are very serious.
“When people cannot get vaccination on the basis of their colour, it’s a very serious matter to us. We are actually struggling to distinguish between that what they have done and the deliberate act to try and actually murder other races. So it’s a matter that we are going following up to the latter and ensure that the department acts and acts accordingly on this particular matter,” says Makhafane.
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