Joburg Mayor Jolidee Matongo – Photo: Twitter
Joburg Mayor Jolidee Matongo – Photo: Twitter
Ahh yes, of course. Obviously, we’ve reached the ‘free car with your first vaccination’ stage of the pandemic. Joburg Mayor Jolidee Matongo may have turned heads with this latest statement, but the newly elected politician says he is desperate to see more men get their COVID-19 jabs in South Africa.
That, of course, means convincing the public to take part in the vaccine rollout by any means necessary. Matongo, speaking to the media early on Tuesday, conceded that it may now be time to try and ‘incentivise’ reluctant males.
Generally speaking, women have a greater vaccine uptake rate than men do in South Africa. However, in both Gauteng and Johannesburg, the alarm bells are ringing the loudest. The Joburg Mayor says that barely 40% of blokes have registered for their first jabs here – sparking concern amongst the local structures of government.
The fewer people vaccinated, the less chance South Africa has of ending lockdown in a swift and effective manner. That’s why Matongo and his colleagues are willing to take chance on something that seems a little left-field.
Vaccination Door to Door
— Jolidee Matongo (@matongo_jolidee) August 17, 2021
Following the call by the Premier @David_Makhura to ramp up vaccines, we have hit the streets of Lawley with mobile healthcare facilities to bring vaccines to our residents door steps.#COVID19#WeServeJoburg pic.twitter.com/aTJnUIIxox
The Joburg Mayor has confirmed that one possible avenue would be to give away ‘raffle tickets’ for every gent who comes forward to get their shots in Gauteng. Through a partnership with the automotive industry, Matongo hopes that cars can be given away as prizes for the lucky winners – thus incentivising the need for a vaccine.
“It is something that we were discussing with the Gauteng Premier earlier that, what are the incentives what are the things we can do? One doctor was saying maybe have a competition, get the automotive sector to donate a car, then men who get vaccinated get a slip and enter a draw for it. Those are some of the creative things that can be done.”