DURBAN - WHILE the National Economic and Labour Council has expressed support for mandatory Covid-19 vaccination, the South African National Christian Forum (SANCF) says it will maintain its opposition, saying the move infringes on the constitutional rights of people.
The forum also confirmed that its initial court application to the Constitutional Court to interdict the government from implementing mandatory vaccination has been withdrawn and refiled with the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria on an urgent basis.
SANCF founder Bishop Marothi Mashashane said they were ready to fight for justice for all and would protect the rights of the people in the majority.
“It has been said that the right of the minority cannot supersede the right of the majority, correctly so, but the question is who are the majority in this case? The truth is the unvaccinated are in the majority as it stands,” said Mashashane yesterday.
He said the SANCF position was not opposing vaccination, but was against enforcing it against the will of the people. The bishop questioned why there was a message telling unvaccinated people to take the jab because the jab works, and another message telling the vaccinated to get a booster, because the first jab’s efficacy does not last.
The bishop cited Section 12(2) of the Constitution, which states that everyone has the right to bodily and psychological integrity, which includes the right to make decisions concerning reproduction; to security and control over their body; and not to be subjected to medical or scientific experiments without their informed consent
“This is the right that we are protecting, and one cannot be discriminated against on the ground of his constitutional right to choose,” Mashashane said.
Meanwhile, the KwaZulu-Natal
Christian Council (KZNCC) said it would continue to drive the message for people to get vaccinated as this would save lives and protect families and communities.
KZNCC CEO Dr Douglas Dziva said they had engaged with different faith leaders as they believed the faith community had a lot to contribute in curbing the spread of Covid-19 infections in the province.
“We launched a campaign back in October where we encouraged congregants to get vaccinated because the fact is that the number of infections and deaths remains a worrying thing and it is up to all of us to play our part to curb the spread,” said Dziva.
He acknowledged that despite the campaign there remained challenges at community level as some communities had questions or were dismissive of the efficacy of the vaccines.
He said despite the setbacks they would continue to urge people to get vaccinated and observe all protocols.
THE MERCURY