Ex- South African
Health Minister Passes Away
Tony Ekata, Johannesburg
Former
South African Health Minister, Dr. Manto-Tshabalala Msimang has
died.
Dr. Msimang died on Wednesday at the Donald Gordon Hospital in
Johannesburg, where she was hospitalised recently with a serious
liver condition reportedly related to her 2007 transplant.
Profile
As Minister of Health under President Thabo Mbeki,
Tshabalala-Msimang drew fierce criticism from her opponents for
her stance on HIV/AIDS and her public support for garlic and
beetroot as treatment for the virus.
The former Health minister also came under fire from advocacy
groups for her delay in rolling out Anti-Retroviral Treatment
throughout the country because of her uncertainty about its
effectiveness.
A fresh controversy around the minister erupted in 2007, when it
was disclosed that she needed a liver transplant as a result of
alleged alcoholism. She was also accused of ill treating
hospital staff looking after her.
Dr. Manto was re-admitted to hospital in November after
developing complications from the liver transplant.
She was a minister in the Presidency under interim President
Kgalema Motlanthe and was not reappointed by President Jacob
Zuma.
Dr. Msimang will also be remembered for her contributions to the
anti-apartheid struggle.
In one of the early tributes to her, Secretary General of the
Congress of South African Trade Unions, Zwelizima Vavi said her
death on Reconciliation Day was of special significance, as the
day was dedicated to those who joined in the struggle for
freedom.
Yinka
