South Africa has missed its first payment to join the World Health Organization’s initiative to help poorer countries get hold of coronavirus vaccines, South Africa’s News24 website is reporting.

Anban Pillay, from the department of health, told the website that the payment for Covax was delayed.

South Africa has recorded the highest number of coronavirus cases on the continent.

Finance Minister Tito Mboweni had set aside $33m (£25m) for vaccines, AFP news agency reports, but it appears that the treasury has not yet released the funds.

The money that South Africa can raise should be enough to vaccinate about 10% of the country’s population, AFP quotes Mr Mboweni as saying.

It will need help from Covax to boost that number.