Statement on withdrawal of DA application on vaccine plan

19 February 2021 - 7:45pm

The Presidency welcomes the withdrawal by the Democratic Alliance of its application in the Western Cape High Court against government on the country’s COVID-19 vaccination strategy. 

The DA had sought an order from the court declaring that government’s conduct in preparing and implementing its programme to administer COVID-19  vaccines “is irrational and unconstitutional”. 

The DA also sought an order directing the government to develop a comprehensive and co-ordinated plan for procuring, obtaining and administering the vaccines. 

The DA withdrew its application after government filed its answering affidavit, in which it outlined the measures it had taken to source, procure, distribute and administer vaccines and provided the details of the plans that had been developed to roll out the vaccination programme. 

It should be noted that government representatives, including the President and the Minister of Health, have provided regular public updates on these measures, and the plans outlined in government’s answering affidavit were already in the public domain. 

The DA therefore had no good cause to bring its application in the first place. 

Despite the challenges posed by the reduced efficacy of the AstraZeneca vaccine against the 501Y.v2 variant of the virus, the vaccination of health workers with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine has commenced.

Government is confident that with the support and assistance of all South Africans, including all political parties, we will meet our targets. 

Statement issued by Tyrone Seale, Acting Spokesperson to the President, The Presidency, 19 February 2021