Å·ÖÞ±­×ãÇòÍø_ÍâΧÂòÇòappÍÆ¼ö-Ͷע|¹ÙÍø

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Rhodes Å·ÖÞ±­×ãÇòÍø_ÍâΧÂòÇòappÍÆ¼ö-Ͷע|¹ÙÍø welcomes the withdrawal of the court application against the vaccine mandate

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Get vaccinated. Protect your community. it's not just about you, it's about others too. 
Photo cred: Adobe stock.
Get vaccinated. Protect your community. it's not just about you, it's about others too. Photo cred: Adobe stock.

Rhodes Å·ÖÞ±­×ãÇòÍø_ÍâΧÂòÇòappÍÆ¼ö-Ͷע|¹ÙÍø is pleased to announce that the applicants in the matter of Makhanda Against Mandates & Others v Rhodes Å·ÖÞ±­×ãÇòÍø_ÍâΧÂòÇòappÍÆ¼ö-Ͷע|¹ÙÍø (Case no.: 124/2022) have elected to abandon their application in regard to the Å·ÖÞ±­×ãÇòÍø_ÍâΧÂòÇòappÍÆ¼ö-Ͷע|¹ÙÍø's vaccine mandate. 

The Å·ÖÞ±­×ãÇòÍø_ÍâΧÂòÇòappÍÆ¼ö-Ͷע|¹ÙÍø has, since reopening in 2022, implemented a vaccine mandate approved by Council as a condition for entry onto campus for all staff, students, and visitors as part of a full and safe return to campus. The applicants, however, opted not to comply with the Å·ÖÞ±­×ãÇòÍø_ÍâΧÂòÇòappÍÆ¼ö-Ͷע|¹ÙÍø vaccine mandate.

Approximately 98 percent of the university community (including staff and students) have since been vaccinated, and the Å·ÖÞ±­×ãÇòÍø_ÍâΧÂòÇòappÍÆ¼ö-Ͷע|¹ÙÍø has incrementally returned to normal operations.

The Å·ÖÞ±­×ãÇòÍø_ÍâΧÂòÇòappÍÆ¼ö-Ͷע|¹ÙÍø¡¯s objective is to achieve a full return to normal on-campus activities, balanced with the protection of the health and safety of Rhodes Å·ÖÞ±­×ãÇòÍø_ÍâΧÂòÇòappÍÆ¼ö-Ͷע|¹ÙÍø and the greater Makhanda communities.

With the assistance of internationally recognised scientists, the Å·ÖÞ±­×ãÇòÍø_ÍâΧÂòÇòappÍÆ¼ö-Ͷע|¹ÙÍø confirmed in its court papers that not only do vaccinations reduce the risk of asymptomatic infection, symptomatic infections, severe illness and death, but they also have a marked impact on reducing the risk of transmission of the virus. The applicants did not dispute this in their court papers.  

Rhodes Å·ÖÞ±­×ãÇòÍø_ÍâΧÂòÇòappÍÆ¼ö-Ͷע|¹ÙÍø reiterates that the health and safety of the Å·ÖÞ±­×ãÇòÍø_ÍâΧÂòÇòappÍÆ¼ö-Ͷע|¹ÙÍø and Makhanda communities remain its paramount concern during these unprecedented times.

 It is regrettable that the Å·ÖÞ±­×ãÇòÍø_ÍâΧÂòÇòappÍÆ¼ö-Ͷע|¹ÙÍø was forced to incur costs, in opposing the litigation, that should have been utilised in the academic endeavour.

The Å·ÖÞ±­×ãÇòÍø_ÍâΧÂòÇòappÍÆ¼ö-Ͷע|¹ÙÍø thanks its legal team for continuing to protect the interests of the Rhodes Å·ÖÞ±­×ãÇòÍø_ÍâΧÂòÇòappÍÆ¼ö-Ͷע|¹ÙÍø community.