​Thembisa Shologu
Gauteng MEC for Health, Dr Nomathemba Mokgethi has commended healthcare workers for their bravery in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.  
MEC Mokgethi was reflecting on the year since the outbreak of COVID-19 in South Africa.  She said frontline healthcare workers' dedication and commitment to serve the nation remained unmatched and government owed all of them a debt of gratitude for going beyond the call of duty. 
"There is no doubt in my mind that the heroes and heroines in the continuing battle against the faceless enemy called the Coronavirus remains the frontline workers," said Dr. Mokhethi.​
Dr. Mokhethi said among the many positives that have emerged was how the Gauteng Province had been able to ensure that its comprehensive health response to the novel COVID-19 pandemic also addressed legacy issues beyond the pandemic when it came to public health infrastructure. 
"This has resulted in the ramping up of capacity as we have been able to create 4,265 new functional beds to date with 4,992 posts created between April 2020 and January 2021.
"We have also seen a display of resilience and innovation at individual hospitals where management and staff coped incredibly well with the surge and in the process coming up with amazing solutions. Emergency doctors at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital came up with in 'intubox' device which limits contact with patients during any extubation, intubation or aerolising procedures said Dr. Mokgethi. 
In addition, MEC Mokgethi said the Sisonke Vaccination Programme aimed at giving healthcare workers early access to the vaccine was an important milestone in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.