Higher education minister Blade Nzimande has moved to allay fears that mandatory vaccination policies could lead to job losses at some of SA’s tertiary institutions.
In a written reply to a question from the EFF on the recent decision by the University of the Free State to introduce a mandatory vaccination policy, which was published in parliament at the weekend, Nzimande said the university’s policy is “accommodating, and it provides students and staff with an option to apply for an exemption through a structured process”.
Mandatory vaccination policies have provoked anger in some parts of the world, with opponents calling it unconstitutional amid fears that those who refuse to be jabbed will lose jobs. Recently, Washington State University in the US fired its head football coach and four of his assistants for failing to comply with the state’s vaccine requirement. The coach, Nick Rolovich, had applied for a religious exemption from the mandate, Reuters reported.
President Cyril Ramaphosa recently announced that a task team has been set up to look at mandatory vaccinations, as well as restricting access to public places to people who have not been vaccinated.
Nzimande, who has previously stated that institutions are within their rights to introduce mandatory vaccination policies, suggested that those who are not vaccinated can be accommodated in separate offices while others can indefinitely work from home.
“We do not believe the policy will lead to job losses as the policy generally has the support of staff through consultation with stakeholder unions. There are a few staff who have indicated that they will not vaccinate, and we believe they will apply for an exemption. Those receiving exemptions could already have their own offices or could be provided with dedicated areas,” Nzimande said in his written reply.
But some employees, such as medical staff required to train students in laboratories, cleaners, gardeners, and student support staff in student affairs, residences and financial aid offices, will not be able to perform duties without coming to campus.
“We will continuously engage these staff on the best options for them to be able to do their duties within the Occupational Health and Safety Act. If all this fails and there is still a refusal by the staff member to apply for an exemption, then together with the employee we will engage in a fair process to resolve the matter,” Nzimande said.
Cosatu, SA’s largest trade union federation, has indicated its support for mandatory Covid-19 vaccinations.
The Sunday Times reported at the weekend that business lobby Business for SA (B4SA), formed in the wake of the Covid-19 outbreak to assist the government with policy responses, expects an increase in legal action from employees opposed to mandatory vaccines and staff who feel their companies have not done enough to protect them from the unvaccinated. B4SA is pushing for a high court declaratory order, which would provide companies with legal certainty should they wish to introduce policies to make it compulsory for staff to be vaccinated.
More companies, including health and life insurer Discovery, Standard Bank and pay-TV giant MultiChoice, have moved to introduce mandatory vaccination policies.
Universities that have introduced compulsory vaccination policies include Wits, University of Cape Town, University of Johannesburg (UJ) and University of the Western Cape. But the government has yet to require its employees to get immunised.
Nzimande acknowledged that unvaccinated students may face more difficulties than university staff members due to the vaccine mandates.
“Some programmes, especially in the faculty of health sciences and natural sciences, require students’ physical presence for laboratory work and/or assessments. Students in performing arts also need to be present in person. There are also programmes in other faculties that require assessments to be in-person to assure the integrity of such assessments,” the minister said.
In addition, large numbers of programmes require the interaction of students in formal and informal group work, as well as interaction with their lecturers.
“Such group work and teaching are of better quality when done in person. While there are blended learning options open for most programmes to assist students with virtual learning, it will not be possible to accommodate students who must present themselves physically for laboratory work, group work and/or assessments. In addition, blended learning, by virtue of combining face-to-face and online components, by necessity includes face-to-face modalities such as in-class instruction.”
The SA Union of Students has suggested that mandatory vaccination policies could lead to protests at universities when the academic year resumes, with student leaders opposed to the policy.
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