# DearSA opposes the nationalisation of C-19 vaccines – allowing freedom of choice

- Link: https://dearsouthafrica.co.za/2021/03/04/dearsa-opposes-the-nationalisation-of-c-19-vaccines-allowing-freedom-of-choice/
- Published: 2021-03-04T17:37:54+02:00
- Author: dearSA

### Earlier this month DearSA noted with great concern the national government’s purported prohibition on private and provincial procurement of any COVID-19 vaccines.

![DearSA-vaccination](https://cdn.dearsouthafrica.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/
03/20190741/DearSA-vaccination.jpg "DearSA-vaccination")

From 15 January 2021 until 28 February 2021, DearSA ran a [public participation campaign](https://dearsouthafrica.co.za/c19vaccine/)
regarding the national government’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout strategy. Over 17 000
South Africans participated in the process and exercised their constitutional rights
within our participative constitutional democracy.

DearSA applied to be a friend of the court in the ongoing litigation regarding COVID-
19 vaccine procurement in light of the participants’ comments. On 1 March 2021, 
DearSA’s legal team filed court papers and brought the submissions of 17 000 participants
before the court, enabling their voices to be heard.

“The rollout of COVID-19 vaccines is an important issue for all South Africans **
insisting on a choice**. We ensured that their voices are formally heard in this
ground-breaking court case. DearSA will continue to ensure the voices of all South
Africans are heard through our public participation platform and campaigns.” said
Rob Hutchinson, executive director of DearSA.

In the government’s court papers, the Department of Health’s Director-General acknowledged
that the government could not have total control over the purchase, rollout, and
administering of vaccines. As a result, the private procurement of COVID-19 vaccines
is not prohibited.

South Africans who participated on DearSA’s platform voiced the following major 
concerns regarding the government’s vaccine rollout plan:

Firstly, the government acted outside of its constitutional mandate and without 
an empowering provision when it prohibited the private and provincial procurement
of COVID-19 vaccines. This conduct by the government was consequently _ultra vires__._

Secondly, centralising the procurement process creates an administrative burden 
for the government, slowing the rollout of vaccines and, as a consequence leaving
the most vulnerable South Africans behind in vaccine distribution.

Thirdly, that allowing for the parallel procurement of vaccines in cooperation with
the private sector would ensure safeguards **and freedom of choice**, to the benefit
of all South Africans.

Lastly, a decentralised approach to vaccine procurement is the most efficient, most
rapid, and allows less room for corruption.

DearSA will continue to monitor the government’s rollout plan.

[Click to view the campaign, legal papers and participation report](https://dearsouthafrica.co.za/c19vaccine/)