Civil rights groups Solidarity and AfriForum are planning to take government to court over its plan to supposedly monopolise purchasing and distribution of the coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccines.

The groups have asked their legal teams to prepare a case to guard against government mismanagement or corruption.

Last year, government was criticised for the distribution of Covid-19 personal protective equipment (PPE).

Many government employees, including President Cyril Ramaphosa’s spokesperson Khusela Diko and Gauteng Health MEC Dr Bandile Masuku, had to be relieved from their duties owing to their alleged involvement in the graft allegations relating to PPE.

“AfriForum’s stance is that government cannot have a monopoly on deciding who receives the vaccine and who does not. Allowing the private sector to purchase and distribute Covid-19 vaccines would allow for better efficiency regarding distributing the vaccine to those who want it, to prevent abuse of power by the government, as well as to ensure that government incompetence or corruption does not derail the process,” the organisation said.

AfriForum campaign officer for strategy and content Ernst van Zyl says it hopes to prevent the potential abuse of government power in the buying and distribution of Covid-19 vaccines, by fighting to allow the private sector to assist.

Solidarity Research Institute head Connie Mulder agreed and warned against the nationalisation of vaccines.

“The State has a history of failures and South Africa cannot afford another failure during this crisis,” she said.

Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize has called for the assistance of the private sector to help with the vaccine roll-out, however, government is yet to provide details on how the partnership will be expedited.