Mogoeng Mogoeng Chief justice vaccines COVID-19

Photo: Twitter screenshot

Watch: Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng spews false claims in anti-vaccine rant

Prepare a large pinch of salt before watching this: Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng made a series of incorrect claims about the COVID-19 vaccine on Thursday.

Mogoeng Mogoeng Chief justice vaccines COVID-19

Photo: Twitter screenshot

An actual Chief Justice, here. Mogoeng Mogoeng has made some very uncomfortable claims on Thursday afternoon during an address to staff at the Tembisa Hospital. The leading legal authority in South Africa was filmed ranting against the implementation of a mass vaccine rollout in South Africa, fearing it could be ‘corrupted by the devil’.

COVID-19 vaccinations: Conspiracy theories debunked

Although he doesn’t outright reject the concept of vaccines, his biblical twist still provides fertile ground for conspiracy:

His allegations, to eliminate all traces of doubt, are incoherent – and about as far removed from the truth as you can possibly get. The COVID-19 vaccine has been rolled out at a quick pace due to the unprecedented amount of financial support made available for scientists. They’ve also had an enormous pool of ‘positive patients’ to draw from.

A COVID-19 vaccine will be one of the safest, most well-funded medical treatments in human history. The trials have been rigorous, the work has been groundbreaking – and comments like these from Mogoeng Mogoeng are far from being helpful. He may be a deeply religious man, but his personal beliefs could end up jeopardising SA’s key path out of lockdown.

Watch: Mogoeng Mogoeng’s ‘anti-vaccine’ rant

Please remember:

Chief Justice makes more controversial comments

The Chief Justice is playing with fire. Due to the impact of social media, fake news and wild conspiracy theories have been allowed to flourish during the pandemic. Concerns about the connection between COVID-19 and 5G networks have been soundly, comprehensively, and emphatically debunked by every reliable source on the planet.

The concerns raised by Mogoeng Mogoeng go one step further. His claims that the vaccine ‘could be hijacked’ by the devil to corrupt human DNA is, well, do we even have to credit that with a description? The legal expert is no stranger to making controversial comments, and he has one year left to serve in this position: It’s likely to be a bumpy ride.

The false claims Mogoeng Mogoeng made about COVID-19 vaccines

(Serving suggestion: Add one very large pinch of salt)

“I log out any vaccine that is of the devil. I reject a vaccine that is meant to infuse the 666 in people and corrupt their DNA – may it be destroyed by fire in the name of Jesus. Any legalising of wickedness in this nation must be met with the angels of judgment from the Lord. There must be no more suffering.”

Mogoeng Mogoeng