More videos have emerged on social media of desperate Capetonians taking the controversial drug Ivermectin to cure Covid-19.
While the government insists the drug is not approved for human use in South Africa, doctors, civil society and some opposition parties have been lobbying for the drug to be used in the fight against Covid-19.
The Daily Voice on Wednesday reported on videos showing two bedridden men, who allegedly suffered from Covid, taking the medicine and showing remarkable improvement within minutes.
The videos were being shared on WhatsApp as part of an advertisement where a woman offers the drug at R20 a dose.
She did not reply to calls or text messages sent to her number.
Some Daily Voice online readers were upset at the media for “exposing” the sale of a drug they believe is saving lives.
But Western Cape Health Department spokesperson Mark van der Heever says Ivermectin should not be sold in public for the treatment of Covid, and anyone doing so should be reported to the police.
“The drug is not currently registered for human use, but SAHPRA occasionally grants Section 21 permits for the use of topical Ivermectin as an unregistered product for the treatment of individual patients with conditions such as scabies or head lice.”
The Daily Voice tried to contact the “Covid survivors” who took oral doses of Ivermectin in the latest videos.
In one video, a man wearing a mask is in tears as he admits to administering Ivermectin to people and appeals to government to make it available to the public.
“I can’t stop crying, the people are dying, I’ve helped 70 people so far for the day. It is sad what the government is doing to us, kassam, and you people are quiet,” he says.
“You can't be quiet, I need your support, you have to come out, kanala.”
One “survivor” refused to comment, saying they were afraid they might be arrested for being in possession of the drug.
Commenting on the video posts, a woman named Fatiema Hendricks admitted she took the drug: “I am Covid positive, too. I work at a private practice and my doctor provided me with Ivermectin tablets.
“I took two 24 hours apart and it helped immediately alhamdulillah... I’m still in isolation, though!”