Aids: 'Mbeki must speak up'
2004-03-23 22:27
Cape Town - The Democratic Alliance on Tuesday accused President Thabo Mbeki of "negligence" for his refusal to comment on the shocking increase of deaths among young South African adults due to HIV and Aids.
Studies by the South African Medical Research Council and the South African Advertising Research Foundation have identified Aids as the cause of the increase in deaths.
According to the studies, more people in the 25-34 age group died last year than any other age group: 91 001 people.
More women were dying than men, as they were more susceptible to contracting HIV.
DA spokesperson Mike Waters said in a statement on Tuesday Mbeki was the political leader of all South Africans, including those infected with HIV, and was duty-bound to provide guidance, solace, and inform citizens what actions government would take to address particular problems.
"At the very least, he should take responsibility for the consequences of his government's actions," Waters said.
"Unfortunately, President Mbeki has again, probably due to his dissident views on the link between HIV and Aids, allowed an opportunity to show decisive leadership in the fight against the disease to slip past.
"By refusing to speak on the most serious crisis facing our country, the president is calling his suitability to lead the country into question."
South Africans needed to hear from Mbeki whether he believed HIV caused Aids, whether he believed antiretrovirals (ARVs) were poisonous, and a firm commitment that government would not delay the rollout of ARVs any longer, Waters said.
- SAPA