COVID-19: Vaccinating South Africa

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝟭𝟯 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟮. Could refusing COVID-19 vaccination cost you your job? You’re about to meet two men who were shown the door by their employers for refusing to abide by company vaccine mandates. They say their fundamental rights are being trampled; their bosses argue it’s about protecting their colleagues and the health system. Macfarlane Moleli heard them out.

For decades, scientists have predicted a highly contagious pandemic would one day ravage the world’s population and crash global financial markets. They didn’t know how it would start, but they knew to follow the clues. Then the COVID-19 pandemic finally proved them right. Now, South African researchers are heading into bat caves in search of crucial scientific data that could help prevent the next pandemic.

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝟯𝟬 𝗝𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟮. It’s been two years since the start of the global coronavirus pandemic. Now, as countries around the world provide free vaccinations to their citizens, ease lockdowns and reduce travel restrictions, the full cost of COVID-19 is being counted. Worldwide, over five million have succumbed to the virus, leaving millions of children orphaned. In South Africa, child-headed homes have spiked as more children take on the responsibility of raising now-parentless children. Carte Blanche explores the devastating personal tragedies caused by the pandemic.

Are vaccine mandates infringing on South Africans' constitutional rights? According to attorney and activist Pearl Kupe, they are. She explains why.