neci_kgoete

We all understand this matter and it is very very sensitive and sad.
However a judicial commision of enquiry will lead to a Nuremberg style of prosecutorial issues on national priorities versus personal beliefs an conducting oneself in the public intersst.The case might well border on presidential(personal) liability for attempted national genocide.

Given the above a simple statement of regret over so many deaths and being ill advised from the former president will go a long way towards pacifying concerns.
The question however remains that were these national deaths in the line of Duty ?? or could they have been prevented.

Delia Riordan

I don’t know if your paper carried the story at the time so forgive me if I am repeating something that everyone already knows.

On hearing the news of the ‘recall’ of President Mbeki, former US President Jimmy Carter expressed relief and satisfaction. His reason? Carter had negotiated with the pharmaceutical companies and enlisted Bill Gates to pay for the release of anti-retroviral medicines which would then be given free of charge to HIV/AIDS patients here and in several other AFrican countries. In a face to face meeting (Carter, Gates, Mbeki) SA’s President flew into a rage accusing ‘The West’ of complicity in a genocidal conspiracy against Africa, alleging amongst other things that the US CIA, Military and drug companies had created HIV and planted it in Africa. Carrter was justifiably outraged and the meeting ended with no progress on the retro-viral issue.

In an interview after Mbeki’s ‘recall in September 2008, Carter admitted that his altercation with Mbeki was the nearest he had ever come to a fist fight! This from a man of peace who heads up one of the oldest and most respected institutes for conflict resolution in the world. Who can blame him? When faced such obdurate (and racist!) ideology, even a committed advocate of non-violence ‘sees red’.

Zabalaza

Ray and your moffie friend achmat,b4 u recommend a commission of enquiry,u first need 2 give us proof of any country in world that reduced rates of aids death/infections by blindly rolling out ARV’S and neglecting other important contributing factors like malnutrition,prevention,poor sanitation etc.Botswana and Swaziland fell 4 same lie and 2day their infection rate is still high and drug companies are swimming in the blood money.

Ray Hartley

Zabalaza – I know this is asking a lot of a homophobe and a rabid ideologue, but perhaps you should first read the article? The study compared South Africa’s response to that of comparable countries in the developing world with similiar budget constraints, before reaching its conclusion.

Lebo

Thats incredible coming from your credible medical institution Mr Hartley.I suppose we are not allowed to question the authenticity of this claim because its coming from Harvard. Its just like the climate change being caused by global warming story.You dispute it you would be subjected to “Green Terror”. Its ample rubbish. As for your story about Mbeki having blood on his hands its twaak my broer.

Zabalaza

Ray,The opening line of that report mentions the often repeated/recycled lie about Mr Mbeki’s non-proved aids-denialism which,like many similar sponsored reports b4,brings its credibility into question.However,heres a spectacular piece of hypocrisy de likes of u will never publish(achmat’s first time experience with arv drugs)”five months into my ARV intake,i started feeling a sensation in my feet.At first i dismissed it thinking its caused by something ive done at gym.The 2nd week it was clear to me and i thought,oh no i cant let manto and mbeki win and i kept quiet for 3 more weeks”.By the he finally admitted the symptoms to his doctor,achmat could barely walk and was severly depressed.

Lebo

Incredible coming from your credible Harvard medical institution. I suppose we are not allowed to question this just like we cannot dispute the claim that global warming is the sole cause of climate change.Ooh:its from Harvard and therefore its gospel.Its not about authenticity, but about whence it comes from. As for your views about Mbeki we know your stance and you cannot fool us.I just hope that Mbeki does not loose his sleep over your manure.

Bonginkosi

Would you rather be dead than have sore feet? What a genius!!!

Ray Hartley

Zabalaza – A tip from me: Aids denialism is seriously out of fashion, even with the looney fringe. It’s not a good look for this summer.

M Sokugeza

Please leave Thabo Mbeki in peace your newspaper ensured he gets recalled. I don’t recall or remember a single HIV positive person who got the it from Thabo so how can he be responsible for HIV related deaths. Justice “Zuma Puppet” Malala and you Boss Mondli Makhanya I am sure the person who wrote this story will also get promoted like the one who wrote the Manto drinking in hospital story. The two of you are good products of PW Botha. You are good in attacking your fellow black brother while you turn a blind eye to those who finance those who attack Thabo. You have been giving you fellow JZ puppet Dr.Mangcu space in your paper to attack Thabo Mbeki and we all know Xolela benefited from the ABSA share from Tokyo’s group. Gentlemen you know as a man you rather starve to death than sell your soul to another man. Xolela you are worse as a Xhosa man “wayalwa” and I am sure during that process you were told never to be what you are a puppet of another man or sell your soul to another man. Xolela even the car you drive you bought from selling some of you ABSA share, Mondli and Justice why don’t you write about that for a change.

Zabalaza

Bonginkosi,im not against ARV’s,please understand the context under which i quoted achmat.Ray,calling one aids-denialist is highest form of “kindergarten sophistry” which wont silence me,try something else.Speaking of reports,we first had “Aids catastrophe to leave a billion orphans in SA by 2010″(2005) by Daily News,the we had United States President’s Aids commission by Theresa Crenshaw,then we had the yearly ones from “Joint United Nations Programme on Hiv-Aids” and not forgeting comical ones released on TAC websites during height of Aids discourse.All these were later proved to be incorrect/overblown/wrong assesment/pack of lies.Is this for real or are we gonna have yet another “de ja vu” from sensation-seeking cowards?

Mavusana

M Sokugeza (Whatever that means) look this aint about black attacking black and why everything has to be about being black…yazi people like you are the one who shout about racism and not looking at yourself and realize that you the racist also…damn man, grow up and stop blaming everything on being black…..maybe neligama “Black” is tired of being used in senseless statements.

PS: Dude, maybe you should stop discussing other people and look at your life…
Remember, small minds discuss people…well you know the rest.

Larry

Zabalaza is not denying the cause of AIDS. He is questioning how Mbeki can be held culpable.

This is rehashing an old argument. At present, we are delivering ARV’s, but are we doing enough and are we doing it properly.

Are there still people today who are dying from AIDS in this country, who should be getting ARV’s, and who are not getting ARV treatment.

That is what we should be doing – not crying over spilt milk. Those wretched lives are gone, and what have we learned. Do we spend money on commissions of enquiry, or do we spend the same money rather on saving those who can still be saved?

Zabalaza

Spot on Larry,we’ve learned our lessons now and we should be looking forward now and making sure that ARV’s reaches every corner of this country,we should be making sure that the likes of Achmat dont again withhold ARV’s from communities/TAC members who dont share his views,we should be fighting the stigma of Hiv-Aids,we should start ignoring witches like Ray who practices poisonous journalism from ivory towers cause some of us know by now that they dont genuinely care about victims of Aids as such,they only interested in political point-scoring and sensationalism.

Sokugeza,it also amazes me how people continue to be promiscious and having unprotected ***(in this day and age)and not blame themselves when they are infected.They instead blame government,apartheid,ancestors,god,witchcraft,absent fathers,sub-prime crisis etc.The future government should consider cutting funding on Aids programs and instead divert funding to two of the most important institution crying out for funding in this country i.e Education and Small Business development.

Those whose decisions/activities ensures that they will meet their makers earlier should be left alone to face their fate.

siyabulela mkangisa

this is another political game by the african national congress, they should stop provocking the man that has for our country like the former state president.

LUCKY

YAH NEH, PEOPLE ARE BECOMING SICK THIS DAYS. WHY ACCUSE THE ANC AND LEAVE PEOPLE WHO WERE DEPLOYED TO DO THEIR JOB BY GIVING OUT MEDICATION TO THE NATION AND FAILD TO DO SO. LEKOTA HAS REALY POISONED OTHER PEOPLE MINDS, THEY PRETEND AS IF THEY LOVED THEY ANC WHEN THEY DIDNT.

Bonginkosi

Zabalaza, I take you to be an educated and sophisticated man. So let’s get down to business:

Please give me the name of one (1) drug in the world that has zero (0) side-effects.

If you have one (1) name, then you deserve a Nobel price for Chemistry.

If not, then we shouldn’t really be having this discussion. An intellect is a bad thing to waste.

Bonginkosi

Price should read prize. I apologize for the incorrect spelling, my good people.

Bonginkosi

Zabalaza, ‘a billion orphans’?!!!!? Where did this one come from? There are about 48 MILLION people in SA with or without HIV and you say the report said, ‘a billion’ orphans???? Please do tell how we go from 48 MILLION people to a billion orphans? I dare say this, Zabalaza, you are poisonous to the extreme. Please attach the ‘Daily News’ article and I WILL PROVE THAT YOU ARE A LIAR!!

Really, your games are rather silly!! Go away. Immediately!!