South Africans urged to get vaccinated as people commemorate the passing of Madiba

Nelson Mandela Foundation CEO, Sello Hatang, has urged South Africans to go out and get vaccinated against COVID-19 amid the rapid spread of the Omicron variant.

He said that as people commemorate the passing of former President Nelson Mandela, and remember his legacy, they should think of those who lost loved ones to the coronavirus and protect themselves through vaccination.

Today marks the 8th anniversary of Madiba’s death, and also coincides with the 25th anniversary of Madiba’s signing of the Constitution on the 10th of December 1996.

Hatang also lamented the recent travel bans imposed on South Africa, following the discovery of the Omicron variant by scientists in South Africa.

“We must, as a country and as a continent reject all attempts to suggest that we’re the disease burden of the world. So, all this apartheid that’s being introduced in terms of health care, we must reject with everything we have. I’m worried that jobs that were lost and regained recently will be lost again. We must also encourage our people to vaccinate because it’s proving itself that it’s the only protection that we have.”

[HAPPENING NOW] It is a great honour to deliver the welcome and opening address at the seat of our democratic government, the Union Buildings. This as we take the time today to honour Nelson Mandela. #MRWR21 pic.twitter.com/j8aqndcOOE

— Executive Mayor, Randall Williams (@tshwane_mayor) December 5, 2021