Roland Schoeman World Aquatics Championships

South Africa’s Roland Schoeman made history at the 2023 World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan on Sunday. Photo: Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP

Ironic: Roland Schoeman tells professor to ‘do his research’ on vaccines

Awkward! Roland Schoeman wanted to be a Minister? Now he is getting backlash for telling a UKZN PROFESSOR to “do some research” on vaccines.

Roland Schoeman World Aquatics Championships

South Africa’s Roland Schoeman made history at the 2023 World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan on Sunday. Photo: Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP

If the COVID-19 pandemic has taught the world one thing, it’s that people are more than ready to argue about this virus. They will argue about the pandemic. And they will CERTAINLY argue about vaccines. Enter, Roland Schoeman. The man whose “social media” application for Sports Minister was turned down. And despite his Olympic Gold medal, is quite passionate about vaccines.

What does Roland Schoeman think of vaccines?

Well, it all started when University of KwaZulu-Natal Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Mosa Moshabela tweeted out some thoughts. Moshabela is also the chair of the Academy of Science SA committee on health.

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According to the professor, our government should implement these 5 policies to deal with the new Omicron COVID variant.

1. Mandatory vaccination
2. Boosters for vulnerable groups
3. Rapid Covid-19 antigen tests
4. Compulsory case isolation, contact tracing & quarantine
5. Measures to combat airborne transmission

Moshabela followed up that the country is trying to live with the virus. And that this can only be done with high vaccination levels.

Schoeman then entered the conversation with this.

The funny part thing about the “do some research part”? Moshabela is literally Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation.

Schoeman puts his foot in it, then apologises

Now that his swimming days are behind him, Roland Schoeman lives in the US and is an Arizona realtor. That’s according to his Twitter bio.

Fair play for owning up to his research comment though. As the tweets attacking Schoeman started to fly in, Moshabela revealed that the former swimmer had contacted him. Schoeman DMd the professor and Moshabela was quick to state that all is forgiven.

See folks, sometimes, it is possible for there to be a civil discussion on the internet.