Naspers mulling over mandatory vaccines for SA staff

By S'thembile Cele

(Bloomberg) – Naspers is considering making Covid-19 vaccines mandatory for South African staff after the country's largest medical-scheme administrator took the step earlier this month. 

Africa's largest company by market value is mulling the decision to enable employees to travel safely, Phuthi Mahanyele-Dabengwa, head of Naspers South Africa, told the Nation Brand Forum on Tuesday. 

Discovery, which is involved in the country's vaccine rollout, will make inoculations compulsory for all staff from the start of next year.

"We are watching Discovery and seeing what they are doing because we would like to have something similar," Mahanyele-Dabengwa said.

Naspers has a cross-shareholding with Amsterdam-based Prosus NV, which houses the bulk of the e-commerce giant's international internet assets.

Read more:

• Mandatory vaccines: The debate continues – Matthew Kruger
• Unpacking the constitutionality of mandatory vaccines – Matthew Kruger
• Mandatory vaccines: Ethics, legality and constitutionality around compulsory inoculation – Prof Dhai