SABC defends stance on Mbeki Aids documentary

Malema's comments are telling and in line with the standard African continental position. You protect leaders at all costs from being brought to justice for crimes against their own people. Hence we work so hard to protect the murderous rogues of Sudan, Zimbabwe, Guinea, the DRC etc from being stand to account before the ICJ. Who cares about the African people? Definitely not our leaders. Malema clearly sees himself as a future Al Bashir or Mugabe.

People should stop playing games around our minds and thaughts.As far as I know,Thabo and Manto were mandated by the organisation-they should have seen and debated around that and made a decision there and then.
Not only the two alone to be charged but questions around those who elected them to those position are to blame.

Phumelele,so you want to say that whenever there is a democratic election and the elected politicians do wrong, they not only should be charged but all who elected them should be “questioned”.

I agree that in a sense you are right especially if that electorate is so stupid to elect the same wrongdoers again.
But then what we’re saying is that democracy (in Afrika) does not work so well.
‘Problem is that the alternative -dictatorship- don’t work so well either.

So in the end the people continue to get what they deserve –those who are stupid suffer.

If you reduce it to that, the reality of politics in Afrika is utterly depressing really.

What is depressing is the amount of people who have died of a preventable disease. This is so much more important than pointing fingers at politicians. Please lets be part of the solution instead of part of the problem (ie name calling, race card, political agendas etc). How can we help? Nobody else will.....

SABC has never been honest with its viewers. It always protects the corupt politicians. It was on the same SABC were Mbeki was on record to say "How can a virus causesw syndrome?". Now they want his comments first before the air it again, why? E-TV was brave enough to air it and let Mbeki and his form Dr Beetroot and garlic sue EtV. Masese

No one should be surprisd by the SABC view. I mean they are owned by the Gov and most if not all of them are just stoked to have a job. It that environment if you do anything that is even remotely close to being against the ANC you will get bulleted.

We might blame the SABC for many things but principles of fairness and balance are important in journalism. eTV is parading as a champion of the voiceless, but in reality it thrives on sensationalism. I think the SABC got it right this time. Personally, I have three family members owing to HIV related illnesses, but I still think blaming Mbeki is far fetched. We need to take the lead as citizens in ensuring that we stop the spread of HIV/AIDS; the responsibility is mine and yours, not the former president’s only.

I must say, having the SABC associate itself with "issues of balance" seems to be somewhat strange...

The mainstream media, tv and press, will always feed us disinformation. Science, up to today, has never proven that HIV causes AIDS. As a collective, the powers that be fed us the gabbage that HIV causes AIDS. AIDS is not a disease but a condition. No one dies of AIDS. It's always AIDS related illness. Do we ever think hard enough to find out what this means?

The fact is, HIV/AIDs, amongst numerous other laboratorily created virus, is the goose that laid the golden egg for BIG PHARMA. It's big money for them.

In Africa, we have starvation, genocide, never ending wars, contaminated water, stolen farmlands, poisonous vaccines. All of this lead to immono compromised citezens. Now, out of the goodness of their hearts, BIG PHARMA gives highly toxic AIDS drugs to people with already compromised immune systems. Guess what we are told, AIDS give millions in Africa. No one cares to clean the water, stop fertile farmlands for being used for cash crops for big corporates, provide nutritious food to African,.

Mbeki was/is aware of the actual game plan. He didn't shy away from standing his ground before BIG PHARMA. All he got was being charstised, rediculed, for merely questioning what BIG PHARMA doesn't what to hear. Manto merely said, take care of your baby, good nutrition is the key, you don't need BIG PHARMA toxic drugs.

I urge you all to read more, learn more and save this globe. This is lot of imformative sites on the internet, for many of us to be this ignorant. There're many sites from reputable professors who deal with retrovirus, who'd tell you that there's more to HIV/AIDS than what we're told in mainstream media.

Ps hey M&G moderators, lets see if you post this one.

Wow. Now we blame the ex President of the Country for Genocide.
Why are we not blaming those that have unsafe sex with various partners of Genocide. They know they have aids but yet they go and have unsafe sex and the vicious circle is on the go.
Those that are infected by the needle, blood rape etc are those that should have the health care.
Those that want to commit genocide should be criminally charged and be taken out of society.
Ethics, Responsibility would mean that the aids rate would be down but no, penis and vaginas are used unsafely.
Do not now blame the politicians for human beings lust.

BLAME THE INDIVIDUALS
Kindest Regards

Eric

Societies today are composed of a series of institutions; political, social class, occupation specialization institutions. Yet for all the social institutions we are born into, directed by and conditioned upon. There seems to be no system is taken for granted and misunderstood as the monetary system. Taking on newly religious proportion the established monetary institution exist as one of the most unquestioned forms of faith theories. How money is created, the policies by, which it is governed, and how it truly affect society are unregistered interest of the great majority of the population.

In a world where 1% of the population owns 40% of the planet wealth, in a world where 34000 children die every single day from poverty and preventable disease and 50% live in less than R 10.00 in a day. One thing is clear something is very wrong. Whether we are aware of it or not the life blood of all our established institutions and in that society itself is MONEY. Therefore understanding these institutions of monetary policies is critical to understanding, why our lives are the way they are. However the fact is, the complexity associated with the financial system is a mere mess designed to conceal one of the most social paralyzing structure humanity has ever endured. Understanding this institution, you will easily acknowledge that AIDS was created to make profit out of ARV’s and whatever medication is still to come. Mbeki delayed or was refusing ARV’s because he fully understands that AIDS was created to make profit.

All this info and yet nothing. Why do we not address this properly. All statts break citizens up into race and gender groups except stats for HIV/AIDS.Why do you think this is? How do you really address this if there is such a huge elephant in the room? Promiscuity, patriarchal society, boredom amongs poor teenagers, no proper parenting structure,poverty, no hope for a better life. These and more are predominant in the black communities, not the white communities. You cannot change the mindset, habits and lack of knowledge if you do not identify the root causes and being so called politically correct does not help. No stigma or discrimination should be attached to this but a genuine committment from all concerned to once and for all tackle this problem head on. This should be seen as a war on a common enemy that is eroding the assets of the South African people, in human lives and in monetary value and we should prepare and fight this with everything we have. As long as we delicately tiptoe around this, the people, mostly black and female, are doomed.

"We must not charge one of our own"... I guess that says it all. Thank-you JubeJube for making that clear.

Africans must learn to take responsibility for their lives. I sympathise greatly with poor people who fell victim to HIV/AIDS. What about the educated and professionals who have access to information but still perish from the same? Will you blame Mbeki / Manto for that? Surely that is not fair!

It is with deep sadness that we South Africans are subjected to the past denials and faults of the former president Mr Mbeki.At this juncture of our countries life,I believe that we need to move on from the Mbeki issue and our constant addiction to the past,yes we can never forget the thousands of lives lost to aids,and the missed chances to save the many lives affected, But!! at what cost,at the expense of the countries future well being,Where would this country be?, if he had spent billions of rands when there was so much to be dealt with. Dont get me wrong AIDS is a big issue and problem.What about today?, what is our nations answer to defeating HIV&aids?.Is it the constant pointing of fingers at what Mr Mbeki said what and did ,or could have done.Is aids gone ,NO!! it is still here and thousands are still dying,is it Mbeki's fault when personal responsibility is not taken by those who can and are still negative.At what point are we going to realize that we are all to blame and that this epidermic is in our families,friends,neighbors and communities.Why don't we spend our time saving those that do not have it and care for those who have it.Mbeki is gone and if anyone's hasn't noticed he is living his life and maybe fretting of what could have been,but its too late,let us appreciate the health we have and be responsible for the our actions and of tomorrow.We all can make a difference!! but it start at our homes and the values we hold dear and teach our children.And lets forget about a Mbeki prosecution it will never happen if it does then the Whole ANC administration would have sleepless nights.

Relebohile Makhetha,
You wrote at the end of your piece of sublime drivel: “Ps hey M&G moderators, lets see if you post this one”
So what made you think that they dare not?
Your earth-shattering, incisive truth? (Haha!)

Just so that you know: Your claptrap is so devoid of sense –it totally defies belief. I heard of chaps like you, but it is a find to encounter a true specimen like you.
Those who have more than the half brain cell that you have to work with will agree that to argue with total idiots is never a good idea.
First your lot brings one down to your own level –then you beat us with experience. But I still marvel at the sheer level of utter mad delusion.

I find you a prime example of “why Afrika is doomed”. You are a case study of regressive evolution. Worthy of thorough examination. If scientist can find out what is wrong with you, they may find one day possibly a cure. That would be a breakthrough of note.

I thought that you chaps did not really exist –thanks so much for your conclusive proof.

(I am still a bit sceptical; so in case you were joking; good job, but I am too disheartened to find the subject matter funny. You had me going though..)

@Relebohile Makhetha: The ultimate test of your assertions would be:
1.Confirm that you are HIV -ve
2.Assess your baseline immune system status
3.Optimise this through diet, exercise, prophylaxis
4.Ensure no exposure to HIV through sex
5.Be repeatedly exposed to HIV under controlled lab conditions
6.Once you sero-convert you can use all manner of magic to delay the onset of AIDS - but use of ART will not be allowed
7.Carefully monitor your disesae progression
If you do not progress to AIDS your control study of 1 (regretably not good science - I know) will vindicate your absurdist notions.
Your (likely) progression to AIDS & death from AIDS-related infections / cancers will eventually result in more space for comments on M & G articles.
Problem solved.

Er, is there anybody left at the SABC with enough brain cells to defend anything

Relebohile Makhetha,

If you truly believe what you say, then inject yourself with HIV. Go on, I dare you.

there we go, blaming the wrong person/people again... Relebohile Makhetha IS RIGHT... and really, you people should do allot of reading...

It is like white people thinking there was no crime before 27 April 1994... laughable...

Our people should not be used as guneia pigs... How can you give someone dying drugs that have side-effects of diarrehea when that side effect will surely kill them?
America did with injecting black men with STD in the 1930s and only Bill Clinton apologised in the 90s...

We can put a man on the moon and defy gravity, but we can't isolate a single virus in a lab test... REALLY NOW

Exactly what purpose does this documentary serve? Mbeki was not there in between the sheets. He never denied the existence of the disease, all he said is that we should tackle the root cause not the symptoms. They proposed ABC and those that practise safe s*x will save their lives and those that don't will loose their life. When I find myself in a new relationship, I make it a point to go testing with my partner before we engage and I still use con*coms during the engagement, not because I don't trust her, but because AIDS is a reality that exists amongst us and it upto you and I to rid out society of this scourge. It is not Mbeki's responsibility to ensure that you and I get ourselves and our partners tested and use condom. IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILTY if you ask me, I'll tell you that this is just a populist/sensetionalist documentary that makes money out of suffering people.

the HIv/Aids policy have been adopted by the South African Parliament, so charges should be also on the people who reside on the parliament. telecast the denocide impact result in poor political administration of south Africa.

Twannie Herinck, may you please tell the world where democracy is working? If you say it is not working well in Africa i feel like i can tell you to go and stay where it works well and stop undermining our leaders. Tio tell you the fact, there is no country in the world where democracy is working the way you wish it can. You rather go home and stop complaining.