Retired chief justice Mogoeng Mogoeng, in hot water previously for controversial comments about the COVID-19 vaccine, has once again come under fire for a similar issue, reports IOL.
During an interview last Monday (14 February) on eNCA's Power to Truth with JJ Tabane, Mogoeng questioned why the media had not queried the “facts” about the origin of the coronavirus; vaccines; what informed the establishment of the Disaster Management Act, and whether it aligned with the country’s Constitution.
The former head of the judiciary said debate around COVID-19 vaccines was being silenced in the media, and complained of one-sided reportage on the issue.
“There is no free flow of information. Just bring all the information to the table so we can fully appreciate the lies; if there are lies against vaccination and the origin of coronavirus, give us both sides of the story, not just one,” he said.
He added: “Don’t act as if you still want to instil fear in us, you want to secure desperation in us for vaccination. Don’t. This is a very serious matter.”
In December 2020, Mogoeng, who calls himself a “prayer warrior”, had created a national furore after a thanksgiving prayer at Thembisa Hospital, in which he said: “If there be any vaccine that is of the devil, meant to infuse triple-six 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.”
Later he explained this by saying that “if there are any vaccines that would negatively affect the lives of people, vaccines must never see the light of day”.
“So people must pray against that. It's important… I’m not a scientist… I’m a prayer warrior so I’m encouraging prayer warriors to pray. If there are any vaccines with triple six, I want God to destroy it…”
His remarks prompted dismay from various quarters, as reported in MedicalBrief at the time (16 December), among them from the health advocacy organisation African Alliance, which lodged a complaint with the Judicial Service Commission, which later referred to the matter to the Conduct Committee.
Calls his impeachment came from a number of editors and medical scientists, reported MedicalBrief, “the latter being led by Dr Aslam Dasoo of the Progressive Health Forum, supported, wrote the Financial Mail, by professors Shabir Madhi (Professor of Vaccinology at Wits University, Glenda Gray (president and CEO of the SA Medical Research Council), Alex van den Heever (chair in Social Security Systems Administration and Management Studies at the Wits School of Governance, Ames Dhai (director of the Steve Biko Centre for Bioethics at Wits) and James McIntyre (executive director of the Anova Health Institute”.
See more from MedicalBrief archives:
Medical scientists call for Chief Justice’s impeachment over vaccination comments
SA government can and should compel vaccinations — De Vos
How COVID gave African countries the opportunity to improve public health