Dec 17
Manto: Enemy of the state?
It has been interesting today to watch the media fall-out today from the death of former health minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang.
Of course without fail, the ANC Youth League has jumped on the band-wagon and hammered radio presenter Gareth Cliff for his “tweets” which many described as thoughtless / careless / inappropriate.
Appropriateness of the tweet? Who knows who cares?
Its amazing how when somebody dies all of her supporters suddenly can think of all the good things she did for society. The reality is that her policies around HIV / AIDs cost hundreds of thousands of lives and have been one of the largest post-apartheid social injustices perpetuated on South Africans.
She is not a hero and should not be treated as one. She was out of her depth from the time she was appointed health minister and her refusal to acknowledge her short-comings meant that many other people suffered.
For those jumping out to defend her, just clarify whether you are doing it as a way of taking advantage of some easy PR or whether you truly believed she offered a lot.
Its interesting to note that according to a poll on News24 - 93% of recipients believe she will be remembered for her failure to tackle HIV in South Africa.
December 17th, 2009 at 9:17 am
I’m not a religious person, but just for Manto, I hope there is a hell.
December 17th, 2009 at 9:26 am
I have just read a story on News24 where the deputy health minister and ANC member - Renier Schoeman - has called on Gareth Cliff to apologise.
As a South African citizen who has had to take on two children whose parents died of HIV AIDS - is the ANC going to apologise to us for THEIR conduct?