By Umamah Bakharia

The Universities Alliance SA (Uasa) is demanding that universities reconsider and abandon their vaccine mandate policies.

Numerous universities implemented vaccine mandates since the outbreak of the coronavirus and the Covid-19 lockdown regulations.

The alliance argues that the decision to have students vaccinate, violates an individual’s right to bodily autonomy and it is also unlawful and unjustifiable. The alliance is threatening if the mandate is not reviewed, they will resort to litigation. Radio Islam speaks to attorney Stephen May, representing Uasa.

“It’s the weighing up of the individual’s rights against collective when one limits an individual’s rights this must be justifiable in light of all the evidence that is available to meet a legitimate purpose towards the public good,” says May.

Uasa is backed by a political party, ACDP who argue that they are acting in response to Section 38 of the Constitution of South Africa.