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South Africa’s president announced on Thursday that Jackson Mthembu had died from the coronavirus, becoming the first cabinet minister to succumb to the disease, AP reports.
The 62-year-old Mthembu in recent months had been a central figure in communicating to the public the South African government’s response to Covid. In announcing the death Thursday, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa called Mthembu “an exemplary leader.”
He tested positive on 11 January. Mthembu’s death comes as South Africa battles a second wave of the coronavirus that may be driven in part by a new variant of the coronavirus.
There goes a man who epitomized human decency. Heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the late Minister Jackson Mthembu and to his colleagues in the ANC and government. The Social Justice community has lost a partner. May his kind soul #RIP #RIPJacksonMthembu pic.twitter.com/HHwwfOSLL0
More on South Africa being charged twice what EU countries are paying for the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, from AFP.
AstraZeneca France told AFP in November that its shots would be capped at 2.5 euros (around $3) per dose “to provide vaccines to the widest population, with as fair access as possible”.
Continue reading… Source: The Guardian