As we brace for a fourth wave of Covid-19 infections to hit South Africa by early December, another storm is raging – Johnson & Johnson’s is not only profiteering from the pandemic but is doing so at our expense. The multinational pharmaceutical giant stands accused of using colonial tactics by exporting locally-produced Covid-19 vaccines to Europe while Africa is in need.
Calling it vaccine apartheid and a “protection racket”, the Health Justice Initiative has filed an urgent promotion of access to information application to scrutinise the contract between J&J and the government. An article in the New York Times, however, gives us a glimpse into the confidential contract which “required South Africa to waive its right to impose export restrictions on vaccine doses”. Quoting Heath Ministry spokesperson Popo Maja, The Times said the government was not happy with the requirements in the contract but lacked the leverage to refuse them. “The government was not given any choice. Sign contract or no vaccine,” he told The Times in a statement.
The HJI says it’s this global vaccine inequity that’s toppling all our successes in rapid vaccine development and is needlessly prolonging the pandemic – all because of commercial greed and political self-interest.
Ironically, the Sisonke trial involving almost 480,000 health workers has shown that the J&J vaccine is effective against Delta in South Africa.
With high-profile players adding their voice to this injustice, it’s yet another case of will the perpetrators be held accountable?
Here’s a roundup of the world’s top and most interesting headlines:
SA Business
Christo Wiese wants Lanzerac wine estate back, says Markus Jooste tricked him into selling – News24
Eskom plans sharp reduction of coal-fired power by 2031 – TimesLive
SA has some hurdles to clear before it can roll out vaccine passport – Fin24
Global Business
WhatsApp blocks Taliban helpline channels after political pressure – The Next Web
Victim of $610 million cyberattack offers its hacker a job as chief security adviser – BusinessTech
Twitter will let users report misinformation for first time – Bloomberg
Markets
Asian stocks rise as traders eye Wall Street losses – AFP
China stocks in US drop as new regulations spook investors – Bloomberg
Big Oil’s bid to lure back investors with cash could ultimately fail – CNBC
Opinion
Beyond reasonable doubt: VBS scandal exposed Julius Malema and Floyd Shivambu’s corrupt dealings – Daily Maverick
Meh economy? Americans aren’t sure what to make of the recovery – Bloomberg
Iqbal Survé’s Independent Media ‘outsources’ staff to tap Public Investment Corporation billions – Daily Maverick
*Download the news aggregator app SAccess, available on Google Play and the App Store, to stay on top of business and market news from around the world.
