Mortal End Quotes
He was one of the few world leaders who publicly decried the racism that was implicit in much of the well-meaning discussion of the AIDS problem in the world in general and Africa in particular. However right about the racism issue me might have been, he allowed that to color and shape his terrible policies regarding AIDS. He argued that those urging the use of antiretroviral drugs were just trying to make more money when they would do no good. Use of condoms was an attempt to diminish the Black world population. He and his Health Minister maintained that AIDS was not caused by a virus—that condoms would not help. And he would not approve any kind of social marketing to try and reduce promiscuous sex or even try and promote pre-marital chastity. Other African nations, with even fewer resources (like Uganda) reduced its AIDS rate of transmission markedly until proper retroviral drug regimens were developed and then used them right away. South Africa instead, relied on traditional herbs and other useless superstitious solutions. The result was a much higher AIDS rate than every other country of the world. Millions of South Africans died needlessly as a direct result of his terrible choice of policies. Like many South African leaders, Mbeki was a brilliant man who had a very limited education as schools were boycotted in the struggle against the apartheid state. He was ignorant about science, and viewed science as a white thing and not part of the black tradition.
