SAHRC provincial manager Buang Jones says close to three dozen of the complaints are from Gauteng but other provinces have also reported similar complaints.

This comes amid heightened debate across the country about an employee’s prerogative not to take the Covid vaccine as more doses become available.

The legal framework remains somewhat of a grey area.

Government's policy states the Covid-19 vaccinations are voluntary but the Labour Department conceded there is room for employers to compel workers to get the jab.

Jones says complaints have come in from various sectors, including domestic workers and security guards.

“These are some of the issues we have to traverse and make a final determination on - the directives of the departments and the decisions of the employers will be a subject of scrutiny going forward and we will make a decision soon.

“We hope that over the  course of the next few days, weeks and months, there will be legal certainty going forward.”

Jones adds there are several considerations to make before taking up any action. 

“These are interesting times and this is also good for us as a commission because we have to assist government on the one hand and also act as an intermediary for the public and also assist non-state actors such as companies to approach this through the lens of human rights,” he says.

But Jones says the commission supports government’s vaccination drive in a bid to achieve herd immunity before a possible fourth wave later in the year.

“The law permits people to make an informed choice and they have the right to make that decision, that’s the law.

“The commission has supported and reaffirmed its support for government’s efforts to vaccinate as many people as possible and still calls on all South Africans to take the vaccine.”

Jacaranda FM