PRESS RELEASE

 

8 December 2021

 

MANDATORY VACCINATIONS

 

NEDLAC’s RECOMMENDATION

UNFORTUNATE AND ILL-ADVISED

 

The decision by NEDLAC, yesterday, to make a recommendation that vaccinations in the workplace should be made mandatory is noted with disappointment by the National Employers’ Association of South Africa (NEASA).

 

“The only ‘business body’ on NEDLAC is Business Unity South Africa (BUSA), which claims to be the voice of business, but is, in fact, only a mouthpiece for big business and monopoly capital. BUSA does not speak on behalf of the majority of businesses in South Africa and, predictably, ignored the contrary views in respect of mandatory vaccinations voiced by a number of other business bodies and -representatives”, said Gerhard Papenfus, Chief Executive of NEASA.

 

Despite the recommendation, NEDLAC has conceded that a mandatory vaccination policy may well face some constitutional difficulties and that a declarator by the Constitutional Court may be required in order to obtain legal certainty.

 

“Should such a declarator be sought, NEASA will intervene in the court proceedings as it believes that blanket mandatory vaccinations will be a gross violation of human rights and will set an extremely dangerous precedent for the future”, Papenfus said.

 

NEASA is heartened by the recent comments by President Ramaphosa, that there is a recognition that various people and groupings hold very strong views in respect of mandatory vaccinations, and that he would embark on a consultative process in order to forge a way forward on this very emotive issue.

 

“NEASA encourages the President to, contrary to the approach adopted in respect of the lockdown and all the measures that accompanied it, subject this process to democratic principles, transparency, rationality and due diligence. The issue of mandatory vaccinations is causing division in society globally, and a misstep may well result in a breakdown of South African society”, Papenfus said.

 

ISSUED BY:

G.C. PAPENFUS

CHIEF EXECUTIVE

NEASA

 

MEDIA CONTACT

JEANNE BOSHOFF

NEASA MEDIA LIAISON

060 885 5612

media@neasa.co.za