Cape Town – Health advocacy group the African Alliance has filed a formal complaint with the Judicial Services Commission (JSC) against Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng following his remarks about Covid-19 vaccines.
While leading a prayer at the Tembisa Hospital last month, the chief justice asked God to destroy any vaccine containing what he called "666", which Christians believe to be the mark of the devil.
The JSC has referred the complaint to the Judicial Conduct Committee, JSC secretary Sello Chiloane confirmed to News24.
The African Alliance argues that Justice Mogoeng has acted in a manner which is incompatible with, and unbecoming of, the holding of the judicial office and that he breached the code of judicial conduct, despite him saying ’’I'm not a scientist, I'm a prayer warrior'’ in defence of his vaccines ’’of the devil’’ stance.
WATCH: Dangerous comments from the Chief Justice?
— Nic Andersen (@NicAndersen) December 10, 2020
With most of the world needing to take a COVID vaccine soon to stay safe, Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng has called for the "rejection" of vaccines that may "be of the devil" or used "to corrupt DNA". @etvNewsSA pic.twitter.com/90P2vXfpb3
“I lock out any vaccine that is not of you. If there be any vaccine that is of the devil, meant to infuse 666 in the lives of people, meant to corrupt their DNA ... Any such vaccine, Lord God almighty, may it be destroyed by fire, in the name of Jesus,” Justice Mogoeng said in the prayer.
The African Alliance said in a 16-page affidavit while Justice Mogoeng has repeatedly defended his comments, the ideas implied that the vaccine could be dangerous without providing any evidence to back up the claim.
It called on the Judicial Conduct Committee to urgently review and deal with the complaint, arguing that his statements lessened the public trust in vaccines.
“Let’s be clear: vaccines are not made by the devil and do not change your DNA,” said Tian Johnson, head of the African Alliance.
“South Africa is at a crossroads where the roll-out of the Covid vaccine is coming up very shortly and we need to do everything that we can to support communities’ understanding of the safety of vaccines. So, utterances such as the Chief Justice Mogoeng’s takes the work we’ve been doing back.’’
The African Alliance said Justice Mogoeng 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.
“As a legal scholar himself, he of all people should know that there are legal bodies that are set up to ensure absolute vaccine safety.”
During a press briefing the following day on the 2019/2020 judiciary annual report, Justice Mogoeng said in defending his remarks: “If there is a vaccine with 666, I want God to destroy it. If there is any vaccine meant to destroy the DNA of the people, I’m asking God to interrupt it. Any clean vaccine, they must produce it quickly.”
He added that taking the vaccine should not be made compulsory.
Johnson said: “When SA gets access to a Covid-19 vaccine, we need as many people as we can to take those vaccines. The more people we can vaccinate against Covid-19, the less chance we all have of becoming infected with the virus. Misinformation about vaccines only puts that goal farther out of reach.’’
The African Alliance said it would continue to use the legal framework to hold those in power to account for the false and harmful remarks they make about life-saving vaccines.
IOL