|
SA 'scandal' upsets Mandela
25/09/2002 10:26 - (SA)
Pretoria - Former president Nelson Mandela is baffled that less-developed countries than South Africa are successfully fighting HIV/Aids, but that the republic still has the "inexplicable scandal" of babies dying from Aids or being orphaned by the disease.
Mandela was speaking at a heritage award-giving ceremony
organised by the department of education in Pretoria on Tuesday.
"Aids has killed more people than any war," Mandela said.
"We have to stand up to secure our future. We cannot defend the disgrace that babies should die because their mothers have Aids and that young people should die before their time has run out."
Mandela said the full impact of Aids could be understood only once you were personally affected. He said four members of his own family, including two teachers, had been affected by Aids.
Mandela also launched an attack against corrupt government officials. "Little did we suspect that our own people would be corrupt when we took
over power, however, the ANC is exposing these people."
Mandela and the education department honoured 270 pupils "who know what it means to be
Africans as well as South Africans".
The pupils were acclaimed on Heritage Day during a competition with the theme of Our roots talk.
Mandela told them: "You have shown us adults what is necessary to consolidate unity within
diversity in our country."
He urgently called on the youth to
be serious about education and to work hard. - Beeld/Sapa
|
HIV/Aids Special Report
