The death of Dr Beetroot in South Africa. Nemesis?

So, ex-Health Minister of South Africa, Manto Tshabalala-Msimang has shuffled off this mortal coil following complications from liver surgery two years ago. Known as Dr Beetroot to her enemies (and perhaps some of her friends) for her unashamed touting of nutritional alternatives to anti-retroviral treatment (ART) for HIV, which included beetroot, lemon and African potato, Manto became a hate-figure in the HIV community in South Africa. This was not least because her position delayed ART roll-out significantly, condemning thousands of affected people to an unnecessary death.

Her political position is ridiculous of course, though the principle of ensuring people living with HIV remain healthy until they can gain access to ART is not so misguided, but I suspect this was not really the prime driver of Manto’s flawed views, further tainted by her support of disgraced nutritional scientist Matthias Rath. To this day, it is still difficult to see how and why her views – tacitly supported by Thabo Mbeki during his premiership – gained so much political purchase. Vague notions proposed by Mbeki at the AIDS Conference in Durban in 2000, during a speech also questioning the HIV-AIDS link, included comments suggesting a ‘need to seek an African solution to an African problem’. Looking back this now sounds shallow and hubristic.

Lets hope Manto’s death draws a line under the dreadful HIV policies ‘shaping’ responses to the epidemic earlier this decade. Things look hopeful, and the current health minister, Barbara Hogan, is universally respected. Perhaps South Africa can now begin to address HIV maturely and robustly.

So, goodbye Manto. RIP, but I suspect many in your country believe you have now met your nemesis.