WTF South Africa?!?!?!?!

I love South Africa. I spent a blissful year in Cape Town studying and experiencing a part of Africa that seemed to get it. There was rule of law, nonviolent protests, and an energized economy. This is not to say I was blind to the flaws. There was rampant poverty and incredible wealth next to incredible poverty. A friend in Cape Town said it was a microcosm of the world where the first and the third world mix. (I refrained from telling him that it didn't really matter if the capitalists and nonaligned mixed anymore, but his point was well made.)

For the past few weeks, though, it seems that South Africa has gone slightly round the bend. Mbeki fired his deputy Minister of Health ostensibly because she went to an AIDS conference in Madrid. Hallelujah for that...a health minister from South Africa doing something about AIDS, besides of course curing it with beetroot and garlic. I'm sure there were more particulars kept out off the media, but its ridiculous. The current Minster, manto tshabalala-msimang is a crackpot nutcase, and possibly an alcoholic who got a new liver thanks to presidential connections. (http://www.guardian.co.uk/southafrica/story/0,,2152333,00.html). Currently 5.5 million people in south africa have HIV/AIDS, life expectancy is 47, and less than 1/3 of the people who need treatment can access it thanks to the Comrade Coffin (Mbeki) and Dr. Beetroot (Tshabalala-Msimang). South Africa only started providing ARVs after being taken to court by the Treatment Action Campaign.

The Deputy minister who was fired for her unauthorized trip to Spain recognized there was, in fact, an epidemic and responded. Her 5 year plan for HIV/AIDS is quite brilliant and focuses on getting treatment. With her gone, its back to the quagmire of AIDS denialists, no drugs, and raising death rates.

Adding insult to injury (but with a silver lining), Jacob Zuma is back in court. Hopefully this time the charges will stick. Zuma was accused of raping a family friend. Ultimately he was found not guilty, but not until he explained that he consensual sex with an HIV+ woman but was safe because he took a shower. Zuma is a presidential hopeful in the highest levels of the ANC. Now he and his lawyer are trying to avoide facing corruption charges in relation to an arms deal with French Arms manufacter Thist.

And for the grand finale, several million of the government distributed condoms are being recalled. A health inspector was bribed to approve substandard condoms for distribution. I want to smack that guy. How much money is it worth for millions of people to get infected with an incurable disease that will leave 10 million orphans, kill 14 teachers a week, and basically destroy the social fabric of your country?