The vaccination site at the Wonder City taxi rank, in Tshwane, GP, was an effort from the Gauteng Health Department to bring convenience to the inoculation program but, instead, it became hunting grounds for unconscientious robbers.
Five armed men who were in a white Toyota Quantum at Wonder City Taxi Rank in Soshanguve robbed a vaccination team at gunpoint. The perpetrators fled with vaccination programme gadgets which consist of three tablets, one smart phone and six cellphones belonging to the team.
— Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) December 5, 2021
Wonder City vaccination site robbed by five gunmen
In a statement, the provincial health department confirmed that five men who were in a white Toyota Quantum at the transit station in Soshanguve allegedly robbed the vaccination crew at gunpoint.
“The perpetrators fled with vaccination programme gadgets which consist of three tablets, one smartphone and six cellphones belonging to the team,” the department noted.
Fortunately, no doses were stolen.
Similarly, in another incident that’s currently under investigation, a mobile vaccination team was targeted in Chamdor, Kagiso. A bakkie carrying site equipment, including a gazebo, was hijacked.
The robberies, at this time, have not been linked by authorities and suspects have yet to be listed in the respective investigations. It may be too early to suggest that this is the work of a syndicate.
“Fortunately, no team members were harmed in both cases and counselling will be provided to the affected staff,” the department added.
These attacks have not deterred the provincial government from its plans to ramp up vaccine awareness campaigns in peripheral regions of Gauteng, where vaccination activity is the lowest.
“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,” the statement read.