My Why

My why…

Michaela Voller, Chief HR Officer

Why I chose to get the Covid-19 vaccine

Last month our CEO Werner Kapp shared his #MyWhy reason for getting vaccinated. Together with my colleagues, I would like to share #MyWhy.

I decided to get vaccinated for many reasons. Firstly, on a personal level I have done so in order to protect myself and my loved ones and diminish the severity of the disease. I had Covid-19 in August this year and I don’t want to go through that again. I have a disabled son, who has had to delay an elective, but very necessary heart surgery, due to the various Covid-19 waves and hospitals not being able to accommodate him. As much as I am dreading him having this operation, knowing that our community, healthcare workers and caregivers are vaccinated gives me hope that when he does have this procedure, he will be protected.

From a professional point of view, I think it is so important that we all get vaccinated in order to kick start our economy. I love this country and we have so many talented entrepreneurial people that depend on all of us socialising, consuming and enjoying all that South African has to offer. We need to travel, to socialise, and reinvent our new normal and make it better than it was before

Selfishly I am also desperate to connect with people. I want to hug and kiss people hello without there being a threat of this illness impacting people negatively. Vaccines are the key to unlocking all of this, and they will allow us to tap into the connection that makes us human, so that's #MyWhy.

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Yvette Adounvo Atekpe, Managing Director: Ghana

I cannot help but continue the advocacy for vaccination against the Covid-19 virus. When the pandemic broke out, my family and colleagues nicknamed me Covid Protocols Madam! Everything had to be double sanitised. Sanitising wipes, sprays and face masks were everywhere I could place them! I even checked the temperature of everyone entering our home!

Alas, somehow, somewhere I must have let my guard down and I contracted the Covid-19 virus in March 2021. I had a severe bout of Covid-19 pneumonia, which spiralled into many health conditions that were previously non-existent. This rendered me unwell and unfit for six weeks. Throughout the excruciating pain and discomfort, I was anxious about my survival and the effects my demise would have on my family.

It was difficult keeping the family at bay, and my daughter contracted it too. As soon as we both recovered and had the doctor’s all clear, getting our family, friends and colleagues vaccinated became top priority to keep everyone safe.

I am grateful to have survived the ravages of Covid-19. I’m grateful to everyone who has been vaccinated and making our communities better protected against the virus.

This is #MyWhy and the reason I chose to get vaccinated.

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Setumo Mohapi, Managed Network & Collaboration Services Executive

As with many things in life, it finally makes sense when it hits family or close friends.

My mom has always been there and the only parent I’ve ever known. Whether it was witnessing her frustrations as she was trying to make ends meet, her joy as we progressed through academically, or her pain as my siblings and I stumbled through the rocks of life; she was just always there, fit as a fiddle, a former semi-professional short-distance runner.

So, when she visited us in December 2020 after we had not seen her for a few months, I noticed how old she suddenly looked, and I thought old age was joining her journey. But when the flu symptoms came and persisted, and my mom started to struggle to breathe, when she lost her appetite and she looked up to us for help for basic actions, the alarm bells went off. It was at that moment when the doctor looked me in the eye and told me that she was positive with the Covid-19 virus, that my world came to a standstill.

I’m vaccinated because my family and I were lucky that my mom recovered and I still have more years of frustrations, joy and pain to share with her, and I want her to be safe. I’m vaccinated because I want my aunts and uncles, her friends, and neighbours, to be safe. I want all of us to be safe. Not all families have been as lucky as we were, and I owe it to the memories of their loved ones.

This is #MyWhy and the reason I'm wearing this white ribbon.

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Andrew Meyer, Principal Head: Eastern Cape

Firstly, I committed to my family that we would vaccinate together to protect ourselves and each other. My brother was the only one in our family who contracted Covid-19 shortly after the initial lockdown. Even though he was fit and healthy, he was severely ill. We quickly realised that Covid-19 is not selective and can have detrimental consequences to anyone.

My second reason was to do my bit to restore some sort of normality to tourism, hospitality and small businesses that have suffered devastating consequences because of multiple infection waves and subsequent lockdowns.

The sooner and longer we can maintain low infection rates, the less likelihood of further restrictions that limit the social nourishment I have come to appreciate so much more.

I'm wear a white ribbon to show that I care for the people around me, and to honour those who lost their lives to this pandemic.

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…What is your why?

Michaela Voller

Chief HR Officer