Trade union Solidarity and civil society organisation AfriForum say they are preparing court papers against Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma over the government\u2019s implementation plan for Covid-19 vaccines.<\/p>\n
This comes after the minister failed to respond to a letter of demand issued to her by the two organisations on 13 January.<\/p>\n
According to Solidarity, the current implementation plan boils down to nationalising the distribution and administering of the vaccine.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is no clarity on the rollout of the government\u2019s so-called vaccine plan at the moment. It is also not clear why Drs Dlamini-Zuma and Mkhize have the power to refuse that anyone other than the state may procure vaccines,\u201d said Connie Mulder, head of the Solidarity Research Institute.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is a shame that the ministers did not see fit to provide answers about the rollout of the vaccine. That is why we are now forced to take the case to court. In view of the mistrust in the government and their handling of the vaccine issue, exceptional transparency is now of utmost importance.”<\/p>\n
Government should still be involved in the process, but there is absolutely no reason why they must be the only institution involved in the process, Mulder said.<\/p>\n
“Speed is now of the essence in a process that has already been hopelessly delayed for too long. We now need as many organisations, institutions and sectors as possible to be involved in the procurement and distribution of the vaccine,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
AfriForum said that the minister had more than enough time to provide answers to the two organisations regarding the government\u2019s implementation plan with regard to the vaccine, leaving the two organisations with no choice but to go to court.<\/p>\n
“The government\u2019s non-disclosure of information is further proof why it cannot be trusted with a monopoly regarding the purchasing and distribution of Covid-19 vaccines.<\/p>\n
“A government incapable of demonstrating basic transparency on matters of such a serious nature cannot be given the benefit of the doubt,\u201d Ernst van Zyl, campaign official for strategy and content at AfriForum said.<\/p>\n