People plan to hit the streets this weekend to oppose possible vaccine passports — what you need to know

16 September 2021 - 10:00
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Vaccine passports could soon be implemented in SA. Stock photo.
Vaccine passports could soon be implemented in SA. Stock photo.
Image: 123RF/fellowneko

Calls have been made nationally for a protest against the possible plans for Covid-19 vaccine passports. 

This comes after President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that the government was considering the idea of requiring citizens to produce proof of vaccination against Covid-19 to access certain activities, events and venues.

In response to the announcement, many protesters, under the World Wide Rally For Freedom banner, will join the global protest against vaccine passports taking place on Saturday. 

Here is what you need to know:

What Ramaphosa said

During his address to the nation on Sunday, where he moved the country to lockdown level 2, Ramaphosa said vaccine passports may come into effect soon.

He said the health department was looking at ways of introducing the passport and said he would give more details when he reviews the measures.

“We will also be providing further information on an approach for vaccine passports, which can be used as evidence of vaccination for various purposes and events so that people are able to demonstrate that they’ve been vaccinated. 

“The Department of Health is looking at a variety of mechanisms in other countries to do it electronically through cellphones or other forms of demonstration,” Ramaphosa said.

LISTEN | President Ramaphosa's vaccine passport contradiction spotted by many

Protest against vaccine passport

According to the organisation planning the demonstration, the protest will take place in more than 40 countries, including SA. 

The movement, among other things, is advocating for the end of lockdowns, the end of mask mandates, the prevention of mandatory vaccines and the end of all state of emergency declarations.

“On Saturday we will all demonstrate for our fundamental human rights, for our constitutionally protected freedoms, and for the end of the excessive coronavirus restriction measures,” the movement said.

Human Rights Commission weighs in on possible vaccine passports

The SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) said this week it was expecting to receive complaints about the Covid-19 vaccination passports, and would monitor how it is implemented.

“We are anticipating that we will receive complaints. How we intervene will depend on how the passport will be used,” said SAHRC chairperson Prof Bongani Majola.

“If the vaccination passport is used to say, ‘if you do not vaccinate you will not go to school or you can’t go to the clinic’, it may be problematic, because you will be dealing with a situation where the passport appears to be interfering with an existing right,” added Majola.

LISTEN | SA has been using 'vaccine passports' for years - expert

Protests/gatherings under level 2 regulations

According to the gazette signed by co-operative governance and traditional affairs minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, religious, social, political, and cultural gatherings are restricted to 250 people indoors and 500 people outdoors.

If a venue can’t accommodate the number of people while maintaining social distancing of at least 1.5-metres between them, it is restricted to 50% of its total capacity.

“Every person when attending a gathering, and to limit exposure to Covid-19, must wear a face mask, adhere to all health protocols, maintain a distance of at least one-and-a-half metres from each other and adhere to the curfew hours,” states the gazette. 

“An enforcement officer must, where a gathering in contravention of the regulations takes place, order the persons at the gathering to disperse immediately and if the persons refuse to disperse, take appropriate action which may include the arrest and detention of any person at the gathering.”


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