Manto - state grapples with protocol

2009-12-17 22:57

Johannesburg - As the state grappled with protocol involved in former health minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang's official send-off, conflicting messages and tributes continued to pour in through Thursday.

While her political colleagues and trade unions lauded her for sacrifices she made for the country and her tireless efforts to improve the public health sector, international media and the Anglican church berated her for her Aids policies.

"Let us use the death of Dr Tshabalala-Msimang as a milestone on our journey, a signpost towards a future with an Aids-free South Africa," said Anglican Archbishop Thabo Makgoba.

It was with an aching heart and deep regret that he recalled the HIV/Aids policies the former health minister pursued.

"We also honour the countless thousands who in consequence died during this time, and stand in solidarity alongside those who grieve their all too often untimely loss," Makgoba said in a statement.

International media

Various international media echoed Makgoba's words, with the New York Times saying the estimated number of HIV-infected people in South Africa "climbed to more than five million, more than in any other nation" while Tshabalala-Msimang was health minister.

The Los Angeles Times said her "Aids denial" and failure to provide treatment had been blamed for more than 300 000 unnecessary deaths. It recalled that her advice to sufferers to use a concoction of fruit, vegetables and herbs instead of antiretroviral drugs had won her international derision as "Dr Beetroot" or "Dr Garlic".

The British Telegraph said she and former president Thabo Mbeki bore "key responsibility" for government's delaying for years the distribution of antiretroviral drugs.

"Their stance has now been repudiated by Jacob Zuma's new government, but its legacy will endure for decades," the Telegraph wrote.

The BBC also recalled her "Dr Beetroot" tag, saying she had maintained that antiretroviral drugs were too expensive and had possible harmful side-effects. It also cited the figure of 300 000 deaths, drawn from a Harvard University study.

'Blame ANC'

Taking a different stance was the Pan Africanist Congress Youth League, which said the blame for controversial HIV/Aids policies should be placed with the ANC.

"Our people should be reminded that Tshabalala-Msimang was not developing policy by herself, but she was implementing and defending ANC policy.

"The masses of our people and the media should be reminded that it's the ANC that has been running government since 1994, therefore everything good and everything bad that happened should be blamed squarely on the ANC," a statement read.

They thanked her for trying to bring medicine prices down and for her role in the liberation struggle.

The SA Council of Churches (SACC) urged South Africans to recognise her contribution to the country's liberation.

'Gallant fighter'

"We call for SA to recognise the contributions of this woman who joined the struggle for liberation in her twenties and went on to achieve educational expertise in the field of medicine in the most difficult circumstances," said SACC president Tinyiko Maluleke in a statement.

Tshabalala-Msimang, who died in Johannesburg on Wednesday, was criticised during her tenure for her apparent resistance to antiretroviral medicines to control HIV/Aids and her vociferous support for root vegetables and lemons.

Despite the criticism, her comrades and trade unions described her as a "heroine in the liberation of our country" and a "gallant fighter".

"Comrade Tshabalala-Msimang was a revolutionary leader who immensely contributed to the struggle for freedom in South Africa and in the early years of the formation of the government of national unity," International Relations Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane said in a statement.

"She led women's struggles for emancipation, gender equality and freedom for all -- nationally and internationally."

Nursing union Denosa appreciated Tshabalala-Msimang's "immense contribution in the liberation of our country".

"We send our heartfelt condolences to family, friends and to the entire liberation movement," a statement read.

The SA Democratic Teachers' Union said Tshabalala-Msimang was "a loyal member of the ANC who dedicated her life to working towards the realisation of a dream of a free, democratic and better South Africa".

NHI 'fitting tribute'

It said her family should be comforted "in the knowledge that she lived to serve her country and helped to change the lives of millions of South Africans".

The National Union of Metalworkers said the speedy introduction of the national health insurance would be a fitting tribute to the former minister.

The National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) chairperson Andile Lungisa said in a statement: "Whilst serving as minister in the presidency Dr Tshabalala-Msimang played an invaluable role in the reconfiguring of the youth development landscape for the better and for that the NYDA, on behalf of the youth sector, is thankful to her."

Meanwhile, PAC's Youth League and former deputy health minister Renier Schoeman called on 5fm DJ Gareth Cliff to apologise for his "vicious" remarks on the death of Tshabalala-Msimang.

"Mr Cliff owes her husband, children, family, friends, and colleagues, and in fact the whole South Africa, an unconditional apology for what he said," Schoeman said.

Schoeman, a member of the ANC, told Sapa he was not speaking with any mandate or in any official capacity. According to media reports earlier on Thursday, Cliff sparked the ire of many people on social networking site Twitter with his comment.

Cliff wrote: "Manto is dead. Good. A selfish and wicked bungler of the lowest order. Rotten attitude and rancid livers -- all three of them."

Seconds later, fuming bloggers posted messages attacking Cliff's "disrespect for the dead" and defending Tshabalala-Msimang.

Schoeman said Tshabalala-Msimang was committed to "providing adequate health care to all South Africans. I had the privilege of working with Dr Manto as deputy minister of health for about 18 months and during that period saw first-hand her total commitment to providing adequate health care to all South Africans.

"There was no minister who worked and tried harder than she did, and she does not deserve these unwarranted and vicious denigrations," he said.

Funeral arrangements

Funeral arrangements for Tshabalala-Msimang's funeral would be announced on Friday, President Jacob Zuma's office said. A media briefing to be addressed by advisor to the president Charles Nqakula and family spokesperson Martin Kingston will be held in Waterkloof Ridge, Pretoria, at 11:00 on Friday.

Kingston, who is Tshabalala-Msimang's son-in-law, said on Thursday that she would be honoured with a "special official funeral". He said the family was "bearing up" under the circumstances and had received many messages of sympathy since her death in Johannesburg on Wednesday.

The Presidency was still dealing with the protocol involved. This included deciding whether flags would be flown at half mast. There were various categories that set out funeral protocols for present and past heads of state and government ministers and this was still being finalised.

Former president Thabo Mbeki was among those who visited the family since the former minister's passing, his aide Mukoni Ratshitanga said.

- SAPA