Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) Minister, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, recently gazetted regulations of the Covid-19 Vaccine Injury No-Fault Compensation Scheme.
The scheme, according to the government gazette is an essential part of the Covid-19 vaccination roll-out. The purpose of the scheme is to provide expeditious and easy access to compensation for persons who suffer vaccine injury as a consequence of a Covid-19 vaccine being administered.The amount to be allocated to the fund will be R250 million for any claims for injuries as consequence of the Covid-19 vaccine.
The Springfield Weekly Gazette spoke to some residents to hear their views on the ‘No Fault Compensation Fund’. Michelle Pillay of Overport said: “The fact that the government is offering this compensation fund means that they do not trust the vaccine. I will not be taking it. This is also another way for them to loot funds, victims will not receive this money. The greedy government officials will once again benefit from this.” Philani Mnguni of Newlands West said he hopes that the compensation will get to the victims. “It is a good idea but I just hope that victims will be given this money for real and not just on paper. We have seen too many funds being looted by government officials,” he said.
In the gazette, Dlamini-Zuma said vaccination roll-out was the “most critical” component of the national plan and response to alleviate, contain and minimise the effects of the disaster, and ultimately end the State of National Disaster. Only persons who have suffered a vaccine injury caused by the administration of a Covid-19 vaccine, that is registered or approved by the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority and administered at a facility in South Africa, will be eligible for compensation. The Fund consists of funds appropriated by an Act of Parliament to the vote of Health or from contingencies, in terms of appropriation legislation or the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA), as well as funds accruing from any other source. The regulations state that the Health Director-General may appoint a service provider to perform the administration, or certain administrative functions, for the scheme, which has the necessary expertise and capacity to perform the functions efficiently, effectively, competently and fairly.
