RIP : Dr. Manto Tshabalala Msimang

Controversial former Health Minister, Manto Tshabalala Msimang is no more.

Manto died in hospital yesterday, 16 December and the cause of death was reported as “complications related to her liver transplant in 2007.”

Manto, one of Thabo Mbeki’s blue eyed kids, served as South Africa’s Minister of Health from 1999 to 2008, when Kgalema Motlanthe moved her to some dodgy Minister In the Presidency position.

I’m not quite sure what she was doing at the time of the death but she was definitely not part of the Jacob Zuma cabinet. Well, guess that goes for most of Mbeki stans.

Her time in government was filled with ups and downs and people have mocked her, said the most horrible things about her and some were justified because some of the stuff that came out of her mouth made us go “Tjo”!

She’s gone now and all we can do is pray that her soul will rest in peace and that God will give her family strength in dealing with the loss.

About Manto:

• Manto’s Life : Read HERE:

Manto Tshabalala Msimang quotes:

• “The incident of my illness was portrayed as an opportunity to turn others into champions of a campaign to rid our government of the so-called ‘HIV and AIDS denial at the highest level’.” (ANC Today)

• “I can’t stop working. The health of the nation depends on it.”
• “I think the TAC was just a disgrace, a disgrace not only to the [health] department but a disgrace to the whole country. But I think, as South Africa, we really demonstrated that we are doing pretty well.” Manto After the AIDS conference in Toronto 2006

• “There is this notion that traditional medicine is some quack thing practised by primitive people… unfortunately 80 percent of our people don’t care about ‘scientifically proven’.”

• “People say ‘your stall is great’. I don’t know what they are reporting on at home. We haven’t shocked the world, we have told the truth…I don’t mind being called Dr Beetroot.” – Health Minister Tshabalala-Msimang, responding to criticism of South Africa’s garlic, lemon and beetroot exhibit at the International Aids Conference in Toronto…2 vials of pills were hurriedly added to the stand on Sunday after journalists posed questions about the absence of antiretroviral drugs.

• “Shall I repeat garlic, shall I talk about beetroot, shall I talk about lemon… these delay the development of HIV to Aids-defining conditions, and that’s the truth.” Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang said in debate on her department’s budget vote.

• “I don’t know how many [South Africans] with HIV would want to take anti-retrovirals.”

• ” I think garlic is absolutely critical. Lemon is absolutely critical to boost the immune system. Olive oil is absolutely critical … just one teaspoon, it will last the whole month.”

• “Today I want to dispel this myth, because it is absolutely not true .[ that ARV's work ] The pharmaceutical industry and those who have a vested interest in the drug industry fuels this propaganda.”

• “AZT was never meant to treat HIV. It was meant to treat cancer and, when it was discovered to be toxic, the drug companies stopped clinic trials of the drug because it was so toxic. Is this drug really one we want to use?”

• “There is not substantial data that AZT stops the transmission of HIV from mother to child. There is too much conflicting data to make concrete policy.”

Manto died on December 16,  The Day of Reconciliation and I do not think it’s a coincidence.  No one in this world is perfect, so as much as she upset and shocked us with some of her comments, FORGIVE!  If Madiba can forgive the oppressor for the 27 years he spent in prison, we sure can forgive Manto for the comments she made or actions she did or did not make.

She’s gone, and at the time of her death was not the Minister of Health so the “good riddance” comments that followed her death are actually ignorant and pointless.

Sources: www.southafrica.to & wikipedi.com

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