AfriForum will oppose vaccine mandates if implemented by the government

29 November 2021  

In a letter to President Cyril Ramaphosa, the civil rights organisation AfriForum today stated that vaccine mandates are unjustifiable violations of personal freedoms and that it will oppose vaccine mandates if implemented by the government. This is in response to the president’s address to the nation on 28 November, where he stated that the government has set up a task team that will undertake broad consultations on making vaccination mandatory for specific activities and locations.

AfriForum also stated in the letter that it is in favour of voluntary vaccinations, but opposes any forced vaccinations as it infringes on people’s rights. According to AfriForum, international examples shows that when vaccines are mandatory, it fails due and achieves the opposite that was intended due to hardened attitudes and the backlash it creates.

In the letter AfriForum highlights how in an address to the nation in February 2021, the president promised that, “I want to be clear, nobody will be forced to take this vaccine, I want to repeat, nobody will be forced to take this vaccine. Nobody will be forbidden from traveling to wherever they want to travel to, including from enrolling at school, or from taking part in any public activity if they have not been vaccinated.” Now his administration is considering doing exactly that. Seeing the president go back on this promise is very concerning.

“On the basis of the principle of freedom of choice and constitutional right to bodily autonomy, if the government implements vaccine mandates, AfriForum will take the necessary steps to oppose them,” says Ernst Roets, Head of Policy and Action at AfriForum.

“If we support state coercion with matters we personally agree on at the moment, we open the door for the state to be able to impose something on us in the future with which we ourselves may have a problem in principle. State coercion is and remains dangerous, regardless of its subject matter, and we should not be giving the government consent to use it in an increasingly expanded array of situations. Vaccine mandates are unjustifiable in a free society,” Roets concludes.

Find AfriForum’s letter to the president below:

29 November 2021

The President

Mr M.C. Ramaphosa Private Bag X1000 PRETORIA

0001

Dear Mr President

VACCINE MANDATES ARE UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND IF THEY ARE IMPLEMENTED BY GOVERNMENT, AFRIFORUM WILL OPPOSE THIS

I write this letter on behalf of the civil rights organisation AfriForum regarding the matter of mandatory vaccinations. You stated in your address to the nation on 28 November 2021 that government had set up a task team to undertake broad consultations on making vaccinations mandatory for specific activities and locations.

In another address to the nation on 1 February 2021 you promised:

I want to be clear: Nobody will be forced to take this vaccine. I want to repeat: Nobody will be forced to take this vaccine. Nobody will be forbidden from traveling to wherever they want to travel to, including from enrolling at school, or from taking part in any public activity if they have not been vaccinated.

However, your administration now considers doing exactly that. It is very disconcerting that you are now acting contrary to this promise.

Section 12 of the Constitution states:

Everyone has the right to bodily and psychological integrity, which includes the right to make decisions concerning reproduction; to security in and control over their body; and not to be subjected to medical or scientific experiments without their informed consent.

Mandatory vaccinations violate this constitutional right to bodily autonomy. It will create a further divided society and will likely lead to social instability. On a personal level I can state that I have been vaccinated. I support voluntary vaccination and respect the right of those that choose not to be vaccinated. I am against forcing my views on vaccination onto others and expect that they respect my views even if they disagree.

In the same vein, AfriForum as an organisation is also in favour of voluntary vaccinations but opposes any forced vaccinations as it infringes on peoples’ rights. Examples throughout the world show that when vaccines are mandatory, it fails and achieves the opposite of what was intended due to hardened attitudes and the backlash it creates.

I used my freedom of choice when I decided to be vaccinated after careful consideration. However, some of my best friends decided – in the same manner – not to get vaccinated. This personifies the value that we cannot grant ourselves the power to mandate choices for others regarding their personal affairs and health.

It is within this context that AfriForum fights for everyone who decides to be vaccinated without red tape and to have access to vaccines as soon as possible. AfriForum has already launched legal actions to help ensure free access to vaccines. However, if government implements mandatory vaccines, it is on this same principle of freedom of choice that AfriForum will take the necessary steps to oppose it – even if I am personally in favour of vaccinations.

Those of us who support vaccinations should be careful not to support the state's possible plans to violate people’s bodily integrity by forcing needles into their arms. If we allow state coercion to take place over something that some of us may personally agree on at the moment, we open the door for the state to impose something on us in future with which we ourselves may have a problem in principle. Coercion is and remains dangerous, regardless of its subject matter.

AfriForum appreciates your time and we hope to hear from you soon. Kind regards

Kallie Kriel
CEO: AfriForum

Issued by Chanté Kelder, Media Relations Officer, AfriForum, 29 November 2021