Stellenbosch University’s (SU) Student Representative Council (SRC) welcomed the recent decision made by the Institutional Committee for Business Continuity (ICBC) to put their mandatory vaccination rule on hold.
This is according to Viwe Kobokana, SRC chairperson, who spoke to MatieMedia via email correspondence.
“It has been our plea from the very beginning to the rectorate to invest in vaccine education along with whatever decision it and the ICBC would make regarding vaccinations in the university,” she said. “If there is no science justifying a vaccine rule at present, then there cannot be further development of the rule, as it would not be informed by any relevant information.”
This comes after an ICBC meeting that took place on 12 April to deliberate on a way forward with a potential institutional Covid-19 vaccination rule. This was amidst new developments with the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the communication email sent to students by Professor Stan du Plessis, chair of the ICBC.
President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the end of the national state of disaster on 4 April, after it had been in place for more than two years.
“In light of these developments, we sought additional input from our Medical Advisory Committee and the ICBC has now decided to put the development of the vaccination rule on hold,” read the communication.
According to communication sent last year, the university was set to make a vaccination rule for staff, students and other identified persons to create a safe work environment. However, given new developments, the university still encourages people to get vaccinated, said Du Plessis.
“Based on these lighter restrictions and our substantial existing community resistance, the committee recommended that faculties increase their use of venue capacity to 50% with a one metre distancing requirement where possible,” read the communication sent to students by Prof Stan du Plessis. PHOTO: Asive Mabula
Students’ views
Some students at the Stellenbosch campus have expressed that, irrespective of their personal vaccination status, they believe that everyone should be able to choose.
“I am vaccinated and would like for everyone to be vaccinated, but I cannot speak for everyone as everyone has rights over their body,” said Imran Allie, a first-year humanities student at SU.
Riël van Molendorff, fourth-year bachelors of divinity student at SU, said he is not vaccinated and it would be unfair to allow people to go onto campus and to attend events based on their vaccination status.
A Stellenbosch University (SU) student getting vaccinated by a nurse at the Stelkor Pharmacy at the Neelsie Student Centre. SU has their own free vaccination centre at the Lentelus sports ground in Hammanshand Road, which remains open to staff, students and members of the public until the end of April. PHOTO: Asive Mabula