Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦

Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 @CyrilRamaphosa

The health and safety of our people remains our paramount concern.   All medication imported into the country is monitored, evaluated, investigated, inspected and registered by the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority.   #SONA2021 — PolitiTweet.org

Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 @CyrilRamaphosa

Pfizer has committed 20 million vaccine doses commencing with deliveries at the end of the first quarter. We are continuing our engagements with all the vaccine manufacturers to ensure that we secure sufficient quantities of vaccines that are suitable to our conditions. #SONA2021 — PolitiTweet.org

Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 @CyrilRamaphosa

In addition, we have secured 12 million vaccine doses from the global COVAX facility.   This will be complemented by other vaccines that are available to South Africa through the AU’s African Vaccine Acquisition Task Team facility as well.   #SONA2021 — PolitiTweet.org

Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 @CyrilRamaphosa

All provinces have roll-out plans in place as the first vaccines come through.   I wish to thank all provinces for their level of preparedness for this massive undertaking that we are about to embark upon.   #SONA2021 — PolitiTweet.org

Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 @CyrilRamaphosa

We have secured 9 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. The first batch, of 80,000 doses, will arrive in the country next week.   Further consignments will arrive over the next four weeks, totalling 500,000 Johnson & Johnson vaccines.   #SONA2021 — PolitiTweet.org

Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 @CyrilRamaphosa

The first phase of our vaccination programme, which is targeted at health and other frontline workers, will now use the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which has been shown to be effective against the 501Y.V2 variant. #SONA2021 — PolitiTweet.org

Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 @CyrilRamaphosa

While it should not delay the start of the vaccination programme by much, it will affect the choice of vaccines and the manner of their deployment.   #SONA2021 — PolitiTweet.org

Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 @CyrilRamaphosa

Since this variant is now the dominant variant in our country, these findings have significant implications for the pace, design and sequencing of our vaccine programme.   #SONA2021 — PolitiTweet.org

Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 @CyrilRamaphosa

This is according to early findings of a study by our scientists and researchers.   We applaud these scientists for leading this research and providing new evidence that is vital for guiding our response. — PolitiTweet.org

Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 @CyrilRamaphosa

Earlier this week, we were informed that one of the vaccines that we had procured, the AstraZeneca vaccine offers minimal protection from mild to moderate infection by the new variant known as 501Y.v2.   #SONA2021 — PolitiTweet.org

Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 @CyrilRamaphosa

It also means that we must undertake a massive vaccination programme to save lives and dramatically reduce infections across the population.   #SONA2021 — PolitiTweet.org

Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 @CyrilRamaphosa

This year, we must do everything in our means to contain and overcome this pandemic.   This means intensifying our prevention efforts and strengthening our health system.   #SONA2021 — PolitiTweet.org

Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 @CyrilRamaphosa

Nevertheless, the human cost could have been far greater. Had we not moved quickly to restrict movement & activity, had we not prepared health facilities, had South Africans not observed the basic health protocols, the devastation caused by this virus could have been far worse. — PolitiTweet.org

Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 @CyrilRamaphosa

South Africa has just emerged from the second wave of infections since COVID-19 arrived on our shores in March last year.   Driven by a new variant of the virus, this second wave was more severe and cost many more lives than the first wave.   #SONA2021 — PolitiTweet.org

Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 @CyrilRamaphosa

In the coming weeks, we will address the other important elements of government’s programme for the year.   Fundamental to our nation’s recovery is an unrelenting and comprehensive response to overcome the coronavirus.   #SONA2021 — PolitiTweet.org

Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 @CyrilRamaphosa

Third, we must implement economic reforms to create sustainable jobs and drive inclusive growth.   And finally, we must fight corruption and strengthen the state. — PolitiTweet.org

Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 @CyrilRamaphosa

This is no ordinary year, and this is no ordinary State of the Nation Address.   I will therefore focus this evening on the foremost, overriding priorities of 2021.   First, we must defeat the coronavirus pandemic.   Second, we must accelerate our economic recovery.   #SONA2021 — PolitiTweet.org

Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 @CyrilRamaphosa

It is this South African spirit that must drive our resolve to build a new and more equal economy and a better, more just society. The year ahead must be a time for change, for progress and for rebirth.   It must be a year in which we rise.   #SONA2021 — PolitiTweet.org

Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 @CyrilRamaphosa

Of a nation that has stood together to confront COVID-19 in ways not seen since the early days of our democracy. More than anything else, this crisis has revealed the true character of our remarkable nation.   It has revealed a spirit of the people who refused to be defeated. — PolitiTweet.org

Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 @CyrilRamaphosa

It is a wonderful account of the courage of the police officer, the soldier, the essential worker, the carer and all those on the frontline who have kept our country safe, our people fed and our economy going.   It is a story of solidarity and compassion.   #SONA2021 — PolitiTweet.org

Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 @CyrilRamaphosa

Beyond these statistics lies a human story of tragedy and pain.   There is no family, no community, and no place of work that has not lost someone they knew, worked with, and loved.   It is also a story of courage and resilience.   #SONA2021 — PolitiTweet.org

Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 @CyrilRamaphosa

Nearly a year has passed since South Africa saw its first case of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19. Since then, nearly one-and-a-half million people in our country are known to have been infected by the virus.   More than 45,000 people are known to have died.   #SONA2021 — PolitiTweet.org

Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 @CyrilRamaphosa

We have risen time and time again from the depths of darkness to herald a new day.   As we look on the grave damage that this disease has caused, we know that like the fynbos, like all those who have walked this land before us, we will rise again.   #SONA2021 — PolitiTweet.org

Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 @CyrilRamaphosa

For three centuries we were victims of oppression, dispossession and injustice. And for three centuries we resisted. The flames of injustice may have scarred us, but they did not consume us.   The rains of democracy brought rejuvenation and the birth of a new nation. #SONA2021 — PolitiTweet.org

Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 @CyrilRamaphosa

Like a wildfire that sweeps across the mountainous ranges where the fynbos grows, a deadly pandemic has swept across the world, leaving devastation in its path.   And yet, like the hardy fynbos of our native land, we too have proven to be resilient in many ways. #SONA2021 — PolitiTweet.org

Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 @CyrilRamaphosa

The mountains bloom with new life as plants which once seemed lost grow back even stronger than before. We, the people of South Africa, have over the past year experienced a terrible hardship. #SONA2021 — PolitiTweet.org

Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 @CyrilRamaphosa

At least once every 20 years, fynbos must burn at extremely high temperatures to allow the ecosystem to be rejuvenated & grow afresh. Through the summer, the burned foliage lies desolate. But when the autumn rains return, the seeds germinate & its life cycle begins all over again — PolitiTweet.org

Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 @CyrilRamaphosa

When I opened the third National Investment Conference last year I spoke of the Protea's unique properties that in so many ways resemble our national character.   What is most unique and special about fynbos is that to be sustainable and survive, it needs fire. #SONA2021 — PolitiTweet.org

Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 @CyrilRamaphosa

It can adapt to dry, hot summers and cold rainy winters. It is wondrous in its diversity. Our national flower the Protea is a species of fynbos. #SONA2021 — PolitiTweet.org

Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 @CyrilRamaphosa

For nearly 40 million years an extraordinary ecosystem has existed here at the southernmost tip of our continent. The fynbos biome, which stretches across the Cape, has among the most distinctive features of any plants found on earth. #SONA21 — PolitiTweet.org