Thousands of South African opposition activists rallied in Pretoria – the administrative capital, on Friday, to demand a faster coronavirus vaccination rollout in the country; South Africa media has reported.
In a gathering criticised as a possible super-spreading event, EFF supporters clad in red party regalia marched to the offices of the health products regulator to demand the approval of more vaccines.
Speaking at the march of more than 2,500 supporters, Julius Malema, leader of the leftist Economic Freedom Fighters noted that their agenda was simply to call for a faster vaccination rollout so they can open the economy.
South Africa is the Africa’s worst-hit country, with more than 1.8 million cases and over 59,000 deaths, with less than four percent of its 59 million population inoculated.
Most of those who have so far received jabs have been the elderly and healthcare workers.
The country has so far administered only Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer shots to health workers, teachers and people aged over 60, but the EFF is also pushing for the use of Chinese and Russian vaccines, warning it would stage a sit-in at the home of the regulator’s chairwoman if it did not approve the emergency use of the jabs within seven days.
The regulator has however, announced that it has received applications for the two vaccines and was assessing their efficacy.
