Arthur Greene
After 18 years, a Cape Town couple has decided to divorce because the husband refuses to be vaccinated.
Despite being hospitalised after contracting Covid-19 last year, Graham Spies refuses to receive the jab.
“The virus attacked his lungs. He is also asthmatic, which made his breathing even more difficult,” his wife, Charnelle, told News24.
“Seeing him leave the hospital last year, after he had recovered, was like witnessing a real-life miracle,” she said.
Charnelle simply cannot tolerate Graham’s decision not to receive the jab.
“It blows my mind that the man I’ve known my entire life is willing to throw all our future plans away just because he chooses to not get the vaccine. It’s madness,” said the 42-year-old, who received the vaccine the moment she could.
“I told Graham since last year that if he refuses to get the jab, I don’t see how I can continue to live with someone that won’t protect himself and the people around him,” she said.
But Graham told the publication that his reasons for not getting the vaccine are personal.
“I believe in science, to a certain extent. I don’t want to be used as a guinea pig for vaccinations. There is no 100% guarantee it works,” he said.
Unable to find a solution to their differences, the couple, who tied the knot in 2003, will sign their annulment papers this month.
They have already begun the process of relocating to different cities, having lived together in Cape Town.
The couple had not yet had any children.
“Under no circumstances will I be putting my unborn kids’ lives in danger. We spoke about this numerous times. I said I will not bear his kids if he does not get vaccinated,” Charnelle said.
Graham, meanwhile, simply said: “This is not how I envisioned my marriage would end.”
