‘Young people getting the jab because of Mjolo message’
Ramathuba defends remarks
Limpopo health MEC Phophi Ramathuba has defended her Mjolo vaccination remarks, saying her message resonates well with young people.
Last week, Ramathuba’s department attracted criticism after releasing a post that said: “Mjolo slaps better when you are protected, No condom – No sex, No vaccine certificate, No dating.”
The MEC was also accused of straying into bedroom politics. Ramathuba yesterday told Sowetan she was not dwelling on bedroom politics but merely calling for self-regulation in young people.
“We are not attacking anybody’s bedroom but because Mjolo is an activity that involves the body, which manufactures all the Covid-19
variants especially when not vaccinated.
“When you vaccinate, both partners will be protected and judging by the response we receive from the young people – by getting their jab – [it] tells us they understand the message,” she said.
She added that many young people have heard the call and are being vaccinated at centres across the province.
Ramathuba didn’t want to reveal what motivated the Mjolo message.
“We were in Waterburg district last week and young people came in numbers, some saying we want to be vaccinated in order to host soccer tournaments and host parties. Some are musicians who are hit hard by the Covid-19 restrictions as they can’t gather their fans for entertainment,” she said.
Sowetan understands the slogan was inspired by one of the musicians after receiving her jab in Limpopo, who remarked that “my Mjolo will now be intact”.
Ramathuba also received a backlash when she announced she would be lobbying the liquor industry to regulate against those who are not vaccinated.
“People must understand that the Limpopo government doesn’t have the competency to make mandatory vaccination policies. “What we are lobbying for is the liquor industry to self-regulate on who should purchase alcohol,” she said.
She added that the industry already has “the right of admission reserved” as their own policy. “Restaurants and pubs, they can tell you not to enter their premises because of certain conditions and it’s their prerogative, not government’s,” she said.