​Thembisa Shologu
Health Minister Zweli Mkhize has apologised to the nation for the difficulty that was caused by the non-disclosure agreements which were imposed upon the government when negotiating for the procurement of vaccines with manufacturers.
Minister Mkhize acknowledged that government had an obligation to account but had to choose between honouring the terms of the non-disclosure agreements or risk losing the vaccines in an environment where the whole world is scrambling for vaccines. 
During the vaccine site visit at the Charlotte Maxeke Hospital on Thursday, Mkhize said: "On 1 February we received 1 million of 1,5 million doses of the Astra Zeneca vaccine- these doses would have been enough to administer the first dose of vaccine to all our health care workers.
"However, the new variant frustrated our noble goals and we had to make a contingency plan, through the Sisonke Protocol, to ensure that there was some protection for you." 
Dr. Mkhize said that he was pleased to announce that the department's finance unit  has confirmed that the Serum Institute of India has fully refunded the remaining 500 000 doses that had not yet been delivered.
"We are, therefore, pleased that we have put this and the most arduous stages of the deal making process with Pfizer and Johnson and Johnson behind us and that we have now secured a combined 51 million doses of vaccines- 31 million from J&J's one dose vaccine and 20 million from Pfizer's two dose vaccine.
"Pursuant to our targets of vaccinating all health care workers by the end of phase one, and to honouring the schedules we have committed to for phase two and phase three, we are pleased to announce that Johnson and Johnson have confirmed that we will receive 1 099 200 doses this month.
"On 6 April, we announced that we expected the final tranche of 200 000 Sisonke Protocol doses from J&J this weekend, which would take us to the conclusion this protocol," he added.
Gauteng Premier, David Makhura said they were in the process of phase two of the roll-out plan which goes beyond looking at the health care workers. 
"We have a full readiness plan that we have presented to the Minister today, about the vaccine roll-out phase two beyond the focus on healthcare workers with essential workers and people living with comorbidities, the elderly people, people at greatest risk and phase three is the last phase.