Julius Malema volunteers to be the first one to get Covid-19 Vaccine, warns against spreading conspiracy theories

The leader of Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in South Africa, Julius Malema has said that he is willing to be the first one to be administered COVID-19 vaccine when it becomes available in South Africa.

Speaking at the EFF’s first media briefing for the year, Malema called on South Africans not to fight science and warned the war against the pandemic is lost if medicine is treated like the enemy.

Malema also rubbished conspiracy theories that the intention of the vaccine is to kill black people, saying it would be administered to all races and that if there was anything untoward, those entrusted with administrating it would raise the alarm.

South Africa is set to receive its first 1.5 million doses of the vaccine this month from the Serum Institute of India, which the Department of Health said would be for health workers.

He said it was South Africa’s inability to develop pharmaceutical capacity that had left it vulnerable in the face of the global pandemic.

And we’re further endangered by conspiracy theories that vaccines are being developed to kill black people.

“It is practically impossible for a vaccine to be given to black people alone and kill them. We’re eating the same medicine that white people eat. If it is going to kill us, then they’re going to kill their own people as well.”

Malema said he was willing to put his money where his mouth is and be the first to take the jab, adding the battle against COVID would not be won without science.

“It is not going to work that one. Now it is science that must be applied.”

He cautioned EFF members against spreading what he termed non-sensical theories about vaccines and urged South Africans to remain vigilant amid the second wave of infections.

“The images coming out of our overburdened hospitals have been terrifying, with makeshift hospitals being set up in parking lots and many people passing away while in ambulances because hospitals have reached their capacity. Funeral homes and burial schemes are faced with a shortage of coffins and the rate at which people are dying has lead to the treating of the dead like livestock because space must be cleared in fridges and coffins must be made.”

Malema said the EFF would suspend all its political activities indefinitely amid a surge in COVID-19 infections in the country and called on members to halt political gatherings pending further guidance from government.

“This decision comes as a result of careful consideration of the impact that resuming political activities may have on the spread of the virus and how it may contribute to the further loss of life. We have therefore resolved to postpone indefinitely the EFF’s plenum, which is a meeting of the elected leaders of the party and public representatives to forge plans for the upcoming year.”