For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Thabi Madiba.

Making headlines: Ramaphosa says South Africa must urgently review whistleblower protection; Sahpra CEO says it cannot be influenced by political pressure; And, more than 12-million vaccine doses administered

Ramaphosa says South Africa must urgently review whistleblower protection

President Cyril Ramaphosa said that as the fight against corruption gathers momentum, South Africa needs to urgently review its current approach not only to witness protection, but also to the broader protection of whistleblowers.

Last week chief director of financial accounting in the Gauteng Department of Health Babita Deokaran was shot outside her home, in Johannesburg. Deokaran was a witness in the Special Investigating Unit’s Covid-19-related personal protective equipment probe.

Ramaphosa said Deokaran was a hero and  patriot, adding that whistleblowers are important guardians of the country’s democracy as they help unearth corruption at great risk to their lives.

However, he said existing systems need to be improved to provide greater support to whistleblowers.

Sahpra CEO says it cannot be influenced by political pressure

The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority has clarified that it cannot be influenced by political pressure to approve Covid-19 vaccines without adherence to the critical components of safety, quality and efficacy.

This could compromise public safety, the authority said.

In June the Economic Freedom Fighters marched to the Sahpra office calling for the use of Russia’s Sputnik V and China’s Sinovac vaccines. The Sinovac vaccine CoronaVac was later approved for use in the country with conditions.

Sahpra CEO Boitumelo Semete explained that the safety of the public was the most important priority for the regulator, which consistently applied its guidelines, regulations and rules.

Semete added that the medicines approval process entailed a rigorous process of assessment, where all information provided by the applicant was carefully evaluated by experts in their respective fields.

And, more than 12-million vaccine doses administered

The health department has administered more than 12-million Covid-19 vaccine doses.

Of those, 22 566 were administered in the last 24 hours.

To date, over 2.9-million people are fully vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine, and over 2.7-million have been vaccinated with the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

By Sunday, South Africa recorded 7 740 new Covid-19 cases and 134 more deaths, bringing the death toll to 81 595.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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