According to the Ministry of Health, although getting vaccinated against Covid-19 is a personal option in the country, those who choose otherwise could be left out of important events such as festivals or sports competitions.

According to the Ministry, non-immunized people could even be banned from international travel.

The Ministry’s issued the warning after President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on last Sunday that the government is considering introducing a vaccine passport system, which could be used as evidence of immunization.

The president said that they will provide more information about passports in the coming days, with said passports used as proof of vaccination for various purposes and events, so that people can demonstrate that they are immunized as they go from one place to another.

In this regard, Professor Lesley Bamford, specialist in the Health Ministry, explained that although the current certificate is sufficient for domestic use, it may not be sufficient for international travel.

‘There are still many decisions to be made. We are involved in a process together with the Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation, talking with different countries about whether they will accept it when entering their territories,’ he said.

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