Soccer bosses and the entertainment industry say they will support initiatives to give incentives to vaccinated people.
This, the entertainment industry said, would allow them to get back to work as they have not been making money since the country went under lockdown last year.
Reacting to the launch of the department of sport, arts and culture’s “Return to Play — it's in your hands”, an initiative that is aimed at encouraging people to vaccinate, Moroka Swallows chair David Mogoshoa said they would support the initiative “if this is how they want us to get back to normality”.
“You must understand that it’s not just the fans that are affected but the entire value chain of a stadium is affected.
“The security guards, the cleaners, the car park attendants, these are all the jobs that fell through the cracks when the pandemic started,” said Mogoshoa.
“We are even willing to demarcate a section of the stadium specifically for administering vaccines so that it becomes convenient.”
Maritzburg United chair Farouk Kadodia echoed Mogoshoa’s sentiments, saying getting vaccinated is a small price to pay in the new norm.
“Look, everyone is affected by this. I don’t think fans would mind getting vaccinated if the incentive is for them to watch football, which they have not watched since March last year. This is an initiative that we are willing to back,” he said.
At the launch, SA Football Association president Danny Jordaan said they would give away 50% of the tickets to fans for the 2022 Qatar Fifa World Cup qualifier match between Bafana Bafana and Ethiopia next month.
The catch?
Fans have to produce proof of vaccination.
Orlando Pirates super fan Joyce Chauke explained that herd immunity would go a long way in resuming a normal life.
“It is good that the government is thinking about ordinary people. It’s a bonus that we may be able to watch soccer for free, if we are vaccinated. Stadiums are the last places where you will see social distancing, so for people who have been vaccinated to watch soccer is something that will encourage people to get vaccinated,” she said.
“We all need to get vaccinated because we as soccer fans miss watching live. It’s not the same when you are at home. So we all need to vaccinate to be able to realise this dream.”
Kaizer Chiefs supporter Lucas Chauke said he was looking forward to going to the stadium after nearly two years.
Activist and musician Eugene Mthethwa said: “I will support such an idea because I am vaccinated myself. But I don’t understand why we will get to a point where we demand vaccination cards when government has allowed taxi drivers to carry a full load of people who are not vaccinated. There is no social distancing inside a taxi and some people don’t even wear a mask.”
Internationally acclaimed choreographer and member of the Theatre and Dance Industry Alliance, Gregory Maqoma, said he would support any idea that would make people safe inside theatres, restaurants and clubs.
“When I was in Europe, they wanted vaccination cards and those who did not have them they were tested right at the door every day when we have performances. If we have testing stations right at the venues of clubs, restaurants and theatres we can open the entertainment industry. I know our government failed to put [such a] measure in place.”
Event organiser Terry Mokoena said: “For the past few months I have been hosting events for a small number of people. But you cannot make money from such events. If I can have more crowds that are vaccinated, then I support that idea. People are frustrated by this lockdown and hungry for fun.”
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