Mbeki unaware of blood row
2004-12-09 09:43
Carien du Plessis
Mthatha - President Thabo Mbeki was blissfully unaware of the storm that has been raging since last week about blood he had donated three years ago that was subsequently burnt. He had also not filled out the requisite form.
On Wednesday, while doing a tour of the Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital in Mthatha in the Eastern Cape, Mbeki didn't know what journalists were talking about when they asked his comment on the row about his blood.
He explained that he had been away in Ivory Coast since last week.
The South African National Blood Service (SANBS) said earlier this week it would apologise to Mbeki because his privacy had allegedly been violated when information about the donation was revealed.
Mbeki referred queries to Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, who was accompanying him. She said it was unacceptable that the blood service couldn't keep information [about Mbeki's blood] confidential.
She earlier criticised the service and demanded an apology after a senior SANBS official had discussed Mbeki's blood donation with a Sunday newspaper.
Bheki Khumalo, Mbeki's spokesperson, said Mbeki never filled out forms in public.
Without these particulars, the SANBS had to destroy his blood.
- Die Burger