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#ZumaUnrest: Some Gauteng vaccination sites closed amid violence and looting

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  • Unrest in Gauteng has seen some provincial government services temporarily close in affected areas.
  • This includes vaccination sites due to safety concerns.
  • Parts of KZN and Gauteng have been rocked by unrest. 

The unrest in Gauteng has seen some public services, including vaccination sites in affected areas, temporarily closed, the provincial government said in a statement on Monday.

"The current volatile environment has seen the people of Gauteng struggling to get to their places of employment due to limited access and services being disrupted across the province.

"To this end, some provincial government services, including vaccination sites in the affected areas, have had to temporarily close due to safety concerns by both the staff and members of the public," the statement reads.

The provincial administration said Emergency Medical Services (EMS) teams were also experiencing difficulty in responding to distress calls in communities due to limited access.

READ | Six deaths, 219 arrests in violent unrest gripping KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng

Parts of KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng have been rocked by unrest, resulting in acts of lawlessness like looting.

News24 earlier reported that violence broke out on Friday, incited by calls to free former president Jacob Zuma from prison, but has since descended into mass violence and looting.

Gauteng government concerned

The provincial government said it remained concerned about the impact the recent violence and lawlessness have had on the provision of services.

The situation was being assessed by its law enforcement agencies in the province, who are now being assisted by the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).

ROLLING COVERAGE | #ZumaUnrest: President Cyril Ramaphosa to address the nation as SANDF deployed to quell violence

South Africa is currently experiencing the third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. The country remains on adjusted alert Level 4 of the lockdown. The province said it was also concerned by the potential spread of the virus during such "super-spreader events".

"Hospital admissions continue to increase and are placing a heavy strain on the healthcare system in both public and private sectors.

"The provincial government appeals to the people of Gauteng to act responsibly and desist from lawless acts that result in disruptions of much-needed services by the citizens of Gauteng," the province said.

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