As the debate over mandatory vaccinations heats up, a sharp upturn in infections due to the Delta variant and a slowdown in inoculations are forcing governments from around the world to implement strict measures – from compulsory shots and weekly testing for anti-vaxxers to vaccine passports and even ‘no jab, no job’ policies.
In South Africa big business believes our only fighting chance against future Covid waves and lockdowns that stifle economic activity is getting more vaccines into arms. So much so that Business Unity SA is advocating for the roll-out of mandatory vaccines in the workplace and that the private sector leads a door-to-door programme to meet vaccination targets.
But a no jab, no job policy will be a hard sell in a country with the highest unemployment rate in the world. And then there are the legal implications. What is your take on the situation?
Meanwhile, although medical experts say disinfectant foggers play no role in controlling the spread of Covid-19, the Electoral Commission is still distributing them to SA’s 23,151 voter registration stations this weekend and plans to order 126,280 more canisters for the upcoming elections – this at the taxpayers’ expense, reports Daily Maverick.
With that, don’t forget to register to vote this weekend for the Municipal Elections on 1 November 2021. You can register online so, there is no excuse. Here are a few very important reasons why you should vote – even during a pandemic.
Here’s a roundup of the world’s top and most interesting headlines:
SA Business
South Africa set to get an ‘extra’ public holiday – BusinessTech
Why Rain’s valuation dropped by R791 million – MyBroadband
Airbnb guests contributed billions to SA economy in 2020 – ITWeb
Global Business
Amazon, Microsoft swoop in on $24 billion India farm-data trove – Bloomberg
With tighter grip, Beijing sends message to Hong Kong tycoons: fall in line – Reuters
IPO mania skips Africa, where fast-growing firms prefer debt – Bloomberg
Markets
Asian markets mostly rise at end of a tough week – AFP
Cathie Wood’s Tesla stock sales hit $297 million this month—Here’s what she’s buying instead – Forbes
Gold up, but set for second weekly loss as strong US retail data boosts dollar – InvestingZA
Opinion/In-depth
Africa’s journey to COP26: The state of play on the continent’s road to meeting its climate obligations – Daily Maverick
Making economic policy in South Africa in hard times: the role of human rights – The Conversation
Hung out to dry: Eastern Cape community without water for almost half a decade asks the court to force municipality to help – Daily Maverick
Video
Watch this robot create any tie-dye pattern you want—Strictly Robots – Mashable
EU regulator opens privacy probes into Tik Tok – Reuters
WATCH | Higher education: Inside Africa’s first cannabis academy – News24
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