The requirement to be inoculated to enter the First National Bank Stadium in Johannesburg is part of a drive by the Government to increase the population's vaccination rate.

It is projected that if the country's campaign does not speed up, the 70 per cent threshold to host FIFA events would not be reached until December 2022.

Health Minister Joe Phaahla welcomed the scheme and asked for the two bodies to work together.

"This is music in my ears," Phaahla said, per Sowetan Live.

"It is a win-win situation, it will spur all and sundry, the clubs, players and the football business.

"We also want other sectors of the economy to return to normalcy if the majority of the population is vaccinated — sectors such as tourism, restaurants and so on.

"So I am here to embrace and fully support SAFA’s initiative.

"By getting vaccinated, life can return to what it used to be and people can get along with their normal daily lives."

SAFA President Danny Jordaan expects fans returning for the Qatar 2022 qualifier on October 12 to signal the beginning of spectators returning to mass-participation events.

Several sporting organisations and leagues around the world are actively encouraging or mandating that athletes, staff and fans get vaccinated.

The United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee made vaccines compulsory for its entire delegation prior to the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games.

Such measures have not been without criticism.

Following the Irish Government's introduction of vaccine passports, ice hockey player Niall McEvoy resigned from the national team.