THE University of Cape Town’s Senate has overwhelmingly voted in favour of adopting a mandatory Covid-19 vaccinations policy.
On Wednesday the Senate, made up of the institution’s faculty, voted on the matter after discussions were held at a meeting on September 17.
The institution is among several in the country debating whether the Covid-19 vaccine should be mandatory for staff and students ahead of the 2022 academic year.
The motion reportedly passed with 183 in favour and 32 against while five members abstained from the vote.
Spokesperson Elijah Maholola said: “The motion on mandatory vaccination has been adopted by (the) Senate with 83% of respondents in the ballot indicating support. The next steps include an engagement process across campus with all the relevant stakeholders, whose voices are key in this process.”
“UCT emphasises that no decision or position has been taken yet by the university on mandatory vaccination on campus. Any final decision on a matter of policy for the university will have to be a decision of the university Council. If taken forward, any decision on the proposal will ultimately be made by Council as the university’s highest decision-making body.”
According to the resolutions taken by the Senate, a panel is to be constituted to establish the logistical and operational requirements to implement the mandate, which include access to vaccination facilities as well as grounds for exemption from the vaccine mandate.
This past weekend South African Students Congress rejected proposals around mandatory vaccination policies at institutions of higher education in South Africa.
Maholola said Council would consider the proposal thoroughly before reaching any decision.
“The university continues to encourage students and staff to get vaccinated,” he said.