KNYSNA | BITOU NEWS - While the country was making its mark during the 2021 local government elections (LGE), voters at 1 000 voting stations across the country had the chance to also get their Covid-19 vaccine while casting their vote.

These temporary vaccination sites were scattered around the country in a bid to further bolster the country's ongoing Covid-19 vaccination drive. 

Janet Love, vice-chairperson of the Electoral Commission, joined Dr Joe Phaahla, Minister of Health, when the announcement was made last week.

Love said, "The IEC greatly appreciates the ongoing support we have received from scientists in the Department of Health and various other medical experts which enabled us to navigate the pandemic and implement relevant best practice. While the Electoral Commission urges all eligible voters to cast their ballots in these elections, we urge all South Africans - whether registered or not - to take advantage of these pop-up sites and vaccinate."

There was a total of 23 148 voting stations in the country on Monday 1 November for the LGE. In Knysna there was a total of 30 voting stations between the 11 municipal wards while Bitou had 16 voting stations within its seven municipal wards.

Each of the two municipalities had one voting station with a vaccination site. In Knysna it was at Percy Mdala High School and in Bitou at Plettenberg Bay Primary School.

At Percy Mdala High School, 939 voters had cast their vote at the end of the day. According to Department of Health district spokesperson Nadia Ferreira the vaccination site administered 90 vaccines on the day. Meanwhile, at Plett Primary, a total of 1 638 voters turned out to make their marks. Ferreira indicated that 15 vaccines were administered here.

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