Arthur Greene
Ngemuva kokwala ukunikezwa kwemithamo yamahhala eyizigidi eziyi-15 yomuthi wokugoma i-Sputnik V ngoNhlolanja, iNingizimu Afrika manje isicabanga ukuthenga imithamo eyizigidi ezi-5 yomuthi ofanayo ngemali elinganiselwa ezigidini ezingama-R680.
Ngokusho kwe-Rapport, uhulumeni wasenqaba isiphakamiso esenziwa nguMengameli wase-Russia uVladimir Putin ngoNhlolanja ngoba sasingagunyaziwe yi-SA Health Products Regulatory Authority (Sahpra).
Kwakungakaziwa ukuthi umuthi wokugoma uzosebenza kanjani uma kuqhathaniswa nokwehluka okuvelele eNingizimu Afrika (manje okubizwa yi-World Health Organisation njenge-Beta Variant).
Uhulumeni kubikwa ukuthi ubenentshisekelo yokugwema isimo esifana nesilinganiso semithamo eyizigidi ezingu-1.5 ze-AstraZeneca ezathengwa ngoMasingana, nokuyinto eyagcina isinikwe i-African Union.
UNgqongqoshe wezeMpilo uZweli Mkhize wathi ngoMbasa ufuna ukuthenga imithamo eyizigidi ezi-5 ze-Sputnik V, ezingabiza izigidi ezingama-R680.
Ukwenza izinto zibe zimbi kakhulu, ukwenqaba kweNingizimu Afrika “isenzo esihle” se-Russia kwacasula i-Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), isikhwama sezomnotho esizimele sase-Russia, esanikela ngalokhu.
“Izingxoxo kanye nezikhulu ze-Sahpra azihambanga kahle. Kuyacaca ukuthi iziyalo zanikwa izikhulu ukuthi zingavumi lutho kubantu base-Russia,” kusho isikhulu se-RDIF.
Ngakho-ke, ukunikezwa kwemithamo yokugoma yamahhala eyenziwe yi-Russia ngoNhlolanja kungenzeka kube yinto esidlule.
I-Saprah kubikwa ukuthi ilinde ubufakazi bokuthi umuthi wokugoma i-Sputnik V uyasebenza uma kuqhathaniswa ne-Beta Variant futhi uphephile ukusetshenziswa ngabantu abanesandulela ngculazi.
“Asikwazi ukuthenga i-Sputnik V uma ingasebenzi kulolu hlobo olutholakala kuleli,” kusho umthombo wekomidi labeluleki boNgqongqoshe.
INingizimu Afrika iqale kancane ukukhishwa kwemithi yokugoma. Ngaphandle kokudidizela kwe-AstraZeneca, izwe lamisa okwesikhashana ukukhishwa komuthi wokugoma i-Johnson & Johnson ngoMbasa ngemuva kokuthi izinhlangano ezilawula eMelika zayalela ukuthi umiswe.
Lesi sinqumo silandele imibiko yokutholwa kwamahluli egazi okungajwayelekile kubantu abayisithupha emithameni eyizigidi ezingu-6.8 efakiwe.
Kuleli sonto, izwe selidlule uphawu lwemithi yokugoma oluyisigidi esisodwa.