Gauteng Premier David Makhura said on Tuesday that the Covid-19 vaccination programmes have slowed down because of widespread looting.

Protests against the imprisonment of former President Jacob Zuma turned violent over the weekend, with looting and violence continuing to plague parts of Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, putting many people’s livelihoods at risk.

Makhura said the looting and violent acts will impact everything, including the province’s health services.

He said it is no longer the law enforcement agencies that will stop the looting.

“I want to say this to leaders in our communities and the residents of Gauteng, the looting and the violence will impact everything. The health services at the moment, I got reports earlier on our programme for vaccination, has slowed down because the mobility is affected. The mobility of ambulance services, as well as the provision of healthcare services, the delivery of oxygen is also affected by the blocking of the roads,” Makhura said.

He called on Gauteng residents, including community leaders, political parties and leaders from other sectors to stand up and condemn looting and violence.

Makhura was speaking in Soweto where he was assessing the situation after 10 people were killed in a stampede while looting the Ndofaya mall in Meadowlands.

So far 19 people are reported to have dead in the province, including a law enforcement officer.

Makhura said police have so far arrested over 400 people.

“We understand those who are unemployed, a lot of young people are unemployed, we understand that situation, there are those who have one type of social problem: adequate food. But the looting is something we must stop because it is undermining every little effort, undermining the economy, different areas of the province. Those shops were employing people,” he said, referring to the stores that were looted.

Makhura expressed confidence in law enforcement agencies and in community, government and pollical party leadership. He said by working together, communities can be brought under control to stop looting, which he says is as a result of criminal elements hijacking the situation.