He confirmed that all 87 vaccination sites had begun administering Covid-19 vaccines by 11am on 17 May.
The daily number of doses administered will increase as the week goes on, he said. About 200 sites will be active by the end of the week.
South African Health Minister Zweli Mkhize in Johannesburg on 17 May 2021 during the first day of Covid-19 vaccinations for the over-60 population of the country. (Photo: EPA-EFE / Kim Ludbrook)
Mkhize was visiting the Munsieville Care Centre for the Aged with Gauteng premier David Makhura and MEC for health Nomathemba Mokgethi as part of an oversight visit in Gauteng.
Those who had registered were ushered into the hall in groups of 10 at a time to avoid overcrowding. By 11am, staff had vaccinated 20 of the more than 800 registered residents.