Rupert denies favouritism

COVID: EARLY VACCINE ORGANISED BY SWISS DOCTOR Many believe he used company’s connection to jump the queue.

Johann Rupert, reputed to be South Africa’s second-richest man, has confirmed he received a Covid-19 vaccination at a private hospital in Switzerland, however, he was “not involved” in the process of securing the appointment.

Rupert responded briefly via a messaging service to queries from The Citizen’s sister publication Moneyweb.

Swiss newspaper Tages-Anzeiger claimed in a report last Friday that he was among the first group of people to get the vaccination in Switzerland in December.

The move has drawn outrage in Switzerland and South Africa, with Rupert being accused of using his influence to skip to the front of the queue, even before the launch of the vaccination campaign in Switzerland.

According to Tages-Anzeiger, Rupert received the vaccination at a Frauenfeld city hospital owned by the Hirslanden Group, which is, in turn, owned by JSE-listed Mediclinic International.

Rupert’s JSE-listed investment group, Remgro, has a significant stake in Mediclinic.

The Swiss newspaper reported that Hirslanden secured a provincial contract to roll out the vaccination drive in Switzerland’s Thurgau region, of which Frauenfeld is the capital.

In his response to Moneyweb, Rupert noted “my physician arranged it” (in reference to securing a dose of the vaccine).

When asked about accusations of jumping the queue, he replied: “I was not involved in the appointment – my doctor set it up.”

He added: “There were many before me … I have also been paying Swiss health insurance for over 30 years.”

Rupert, who is founder and current chairman of Swiss-based, JSE-listed luxury goods giant Richemont, explained he has been a Swiss taxpayer since the start of Richemont 31 years ago.

“[I am] over 70 years and [have] comorbidity as recognised by Swiss law,” he said, noting that vaccines there “are already on healthy 55 year olds in Zurich from next Monday”.

He defended his decision to take the vaccine, saying the move was aimed to “set an example” for the rest of his colleagues at Richemont. –

I have been paying Swiss health insurance