.png)
The Chief Justice's vaccine claims are not based on facts, says the African Alliance.
A News24 report says that the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has filed a complaint to the Judicial Conduct Committee against Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng’s claims about the Covid-19 vaccines. His claims are said to be "false and dangerous". The report goes on to say that they received confirmation from JSC secretary Sello Chiloane that it had received a complaint against Mogoeng from African Alliance, the health advocacy organisation.
While addressing a government event in Tembisa last year, Mogoeng prayed that "if there be any vaccine that is of the devil, meant to infuse triple-six in the lives of the people, meant to corrupt their DNA, Lord God Almighty, may it be destroyed by fire, in the name of Jesus".
The founder and head of the African Alliance, Tian Johnson, said that Mogoeng's claims suggested that the vaccines could be dangerous, and he had no factual basis for his comments. Johnson added that as a highly visible civil servant, Mogoeng’s statements could undermine the public's confidence in the lifesaving and scientifically tested vaccines.
"The Chief Justice should be aware that national regulators, such as the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority exist to ensure that products like vaccines are safe, effective and of high quality."
Because the Chief Justice made unfounded claims about vaccines, the African Alliance believes that he acted in a manner that is contradictory to being a holder of a judicial office and violated the Code of Judicial Conduct in relation to the Judicial Services Commission Act. This is a major issue, because of how misinformation and scepticism around the vaccine are rife at the moment.