Comments on: Manto and Mbeki: how far can criticism go?

By: Mourning Manto | 6000 miles from civilisation...

Mourning Manto | 6000 miles from civilisation... — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 07:42:04 +0000

[...] Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang passed away yesterday. While foreign readers might not know who she is (or was), she will be well known to anyone with a connection to South Africa. They will know her as the AIDS-denialist Health Minister who associated with quacks and never lived up to her promise upon taking office that she would roll out ARV treatment to those in need in SA. Perhaps better still, they will know her for her (in)famous comments that HIV and AIDS should be treated with a diet of garlic, lemons, beetroot and African potato. Oh, and then there was the legendary interview with John “not always right, but never going to admit it” Robbie on Talk 702 where they spent most of the time discussing how she should be addressed: “I’m not Manto to you!”. And how could we forget the liver transplant saga? Did she need it because she was an alcoholic? Did she jump the queue? How did the Sunday Times gain access to her medical records? And should they have published them? [...]

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 10:50:00 +0000

knhflszAfricannabis, I agree to your quote from George Orwell – problem is, the ‘more-equal’ pigs in control are now assuming a more humaoid appearance for us other animals. Yesterday one could be chuck into gaol for criticising the President, Today one loses one’s job, and gets be subjected to civil claims for refund of well spent money while the Deputy doesn’t even get a slap on the wrist for the sazme kid of offence?!

By: Nichola C.

Nichola C. — Sun, 26 Aug 2007 09:35:00 +0000

Really good article – I like your analysis of the situation. Of course, to take a more pragmatic view, famous people do give up a large portion of their privacy, willingly or otherwise, particularly those in the realm of politics. One might even argue that they should be more willing to be transparent so as to set a better example. I find the ANC’s reaction to this whole mess interesting, anyway – as you’ve pointed out, not once have they tried to prove that the woman isn’t an alcoholic – rather they’ve focussed on finger-wagging at the media. (Mind you, that is the ANC’s favourite response. To anything.)

By: Africannabis

Africannabis — Sun, 26 Aug 2007 07:43:00 +0000

Moerane lashed out at the paper, saying that the National Health Act was “unambiguous” in its protection of patients and that “all information” concerning a patient and their stay in hospital was confidential.

“Kings and beggars are all afforded the same protection,” he said.

Ahhhh – beggars can also get a new liver – when the old one is sat with the papsak?

By: Africannabis

Africannabis — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 22:04:00 +0000

Of course you could just change the truth for lies – -

“A South African government official was suspended on Friday after it was found he attempted to censor information on the popular Wikipedia website about his country’s HIV and Aids policies”

By: Nick

Nick — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 22:04:00 +0000

I agree. Most of the allegations are directly relevant to her ability to do her job: if she received preferential treatment, it’s an abuse of power; if she is an alcoholic with a current drinking problem, we can’t be sure she isn’t drinking on the job. Either these claims are facts, and she’s not fit to be a cabinet minister; or they’re false and she should sue for defamation. The option that the President seems to be pressing for is untenable: they can’t be true but irrelevant.

By: Africannabis

Africannabis — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 19:14:00 +0000

- equal before the law –

All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others…