Sol Plaatje University announces mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations for students, staff

Sol Plaatje University (SPU ) in the Northern Cape has become the latest university to announce mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations for all its students and staff.

SPU Vice-Chancellor and Principal Professor Andrew Crouch says all students and staff must be vaccinated when they return for face-to-face learning and teaching in 2022.

A number of South African universities, including the University of the Western Cape and Wits, have issued mandatory vaccines mandates.

Sol Plaatje University wants students and staff to return to campus for face-to-face learning next year. But they have to be vaccinated first. Those with religious or medical issues can, however, apply for an exemption.

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Students who refuse to get vaccinated will be barred from campus and will have to engage in online learning at their own cost.

SPU Vice-Chancellor and Principal Professor Andrew Crouch says, “We are looking at the vaccination directive in that respect, where the public health, in fact, is more important in this case, the right of the individual.

The university had a vaccination site in the past where students and staff could vaccinate. We will have a similar for the whole of January and February, and this is an arrangement with the department of health.”

The University says vaccination remains an effective way of fighting COVID-19.

SPU Student Sikwela Jeremiah says, “They will be forced to vaccinate because they need education. So you understand the dilemma they are putting them. We vaccinate you can come to school, you don’t vaccinate we are not accepting you on our premises.”

SPU student Jerry Lebete says: “I vaccinated fully and I did because it was my choice, so if someone doesn’t feel like vaccinating, they shouldn’t.”

SPU says staff that refuses to get vaccinated will have to follow strict guidelines, which will be issued in the next few weeks.