Archive for September, 2006

Manto backtracks on beetroot while Zuma preaches morals

Friday, September 29th, 2006

It seems Minister of Health Manto Tshabalala-Msimang is not as impervious to public ridicule and pressure as she would have us believe. It appears she has denounced her famous diet alternative to anti-retroviral treatment. On 26 September, Sapa reported her as telling reporters at a media briefing:

“I challenge you to read all my […]

Government Reaches Breaking point on HIV/AIDS Policy

Friday, September 15th, 2006

The South African government has finally, it seems, sidelined controversial Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

But it’s something that the media hasn’t reported widely (other than a front page article in the Saturday Star, and a few other reports here and there). Whether it’s been under-reported, or is something that the […]

SA health dept’s reputation in tatters

Friday, September 8th, 2006

This has been one of the worst weeks ever for the National Health Department’s already tattered reputation. Director-General Thami Mseleku outrageously ordered provincial health officers not to comment in the media about HIV/AIDS. According to the Sunday Times, Mseleku made the order because he regarded the comments of Stephen Lewis, […]

Call for Manto’s fall keeps media hopping

Friday, September 1st, 2006

The AIDS conference in Toronto has ended but the fight between HIV/AIDS activist-NGO Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) and the minister of health is still raging on. South Africa’s media, from TV to print, has lapped up the fray with enthusiasm. Some political parties have also entered the fracas, […]