Question NW3564 to the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation
25 October 2022 - NW3564
Hlengwa, Mr M to ask the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation
) Whether, she found that the Deputy Minister accomplished all the goals set for visits to (a) Sierra Leone and (b) Liberia in West Africa to deliver vaccines; if not, why not, in each case; if so, what are the relevant details in each case; (2 Whether any agreements were signed and/ or agreed to; if not, why not, in each case; If so, what are the relevant details in each case; (3 What was the total cost of travel for the trip to West Africa?
Reply:
1. Yes, Deputy Minister Ms Candith Mashego-Dlamini accomplished all the goals set for the visits to (a) Sierra Leone and (b) Liberia in West Africa to deliver vaccines.
The Deputy Minister visited Liberia on 24-28 September 2022 and Sierra Leone on 28-30 September 2022, respectively, to handover 79, 200 doses of the Johnson and Johnson (J&J) COVID-19 vaccines to each of the countries. These vaccines were handed over as part of a gift of the partnership and friendship between the Republic of South Africa and the two governments. The contribution of COVID-19 J&J vaccines has deepened the mutually beneficial cooperation with Liberia and Sierra Leone and enhanced bilateral relations. South Africa is striving to ensure that the Continent is "COVID Free" and to ensure that Africans are vaccinated to meet the World Health Organization (WHO) threshold. The doses presented to these countries were produced at the pharmaceutical manufacturing plant in Gqebera, South Africa, which is being operated by Aspen Pharma. The vaccine is proudly manufactured at a South African plant under license approved by the WHO. Liberia and Sierra Leone are among the first of 26 countries benefiting from this initiative.
2. No bilateral agreements were signed in both countries as the purpose of the visit was to deliver COVID-19 vaccines.
3. Total cost of the Deputy Minister’s travel to West Africa was R299 698.20.