Rath denies pill-factory plans
2005-05-18 22:39
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UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has warned governments against using the economic crisis as an excuse to cut funding for fighting Aids.
Johannes de Villiers
Cape Town - Even although he professes he doesn't want to sell tablets in South Africa, Aids dissident and vitamin vendor Dr Matthias Rath apparently tried months ago to get a site in Muizenberg for a vitamin factory.
Rath is a German citizen who is encouraging South Africans to discontinue crucial Aids medication and rather take only vitamin tablets.
He has denied on several occasions he is conducting this campaign because he intends selling vitamin supplements to South Africans with Aids.
African National Congress MP for Muizenberg Ben Turok told Die Burger on Wednesday Rath had come to see him about "three or four months ago" because he wanted to get a site in Muizenberg for a factory.
Brought his lawyers with him
"It was quite a large site, too big for a home. He wanted it to manufacture his vitamin supplements. He's already manufacturing these in several countries."
According to Turok, Rath came to see him on a number of occasions.
"He was accompanied by lawyers. I could see they were serious. It wasn't just an informal enquiry."
Rath had repeatedly claimed he was not in South Africa to make money from selling tablets, and that he was simply here to put his expertise at the government's disposal.
- Die Burger