Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang and her director general Thami Mseleku have accused the media of sowing confusion in the wake of former deputy president Jacob Zuma’s statement about showering after sleeping with an HIV-positive woman.
Zuma told the Johannesburg High Court during his recent rape trial that he took a shower to reduce the risk of HIV infection after having sex with his accuser.
The statement was widely reported in the media.
Asked at a media briefing on Thursday whether Zuma’s statement had undermined government’s campaign to combat HIV/Aids, Tshabalala-Msimang said the media had ”sowed a lot of confusion”.
The media was fully aware of government’s comprehensive HIV/Aids plan and strategy, but instead of highlighting this, it had ”sensationalised only that bit” — Zuma’s statement. This had confused the public about HIV/Aids prevention, which was very regrettable, she said.
Mseleku said it was not Zuma’s statement ”per se” that undermined the strategy, but rather the media’s ”hammering” on it.
Both said it was important now for the media to emphasise the right message to counter the perceptions created by Zuma’s statement.
Government had a comprehensive HIV/Aids plan and strategy, and ”we must stick to it … not be influenced by things that come on the side”, Tshabalala-Msimang said.
Earlier in the week, Zuma castigated the media for having pre-judged him after he was acquitted on a charge of rape by the Johannesburg High Court on Monday.
Speaking in Zulu after the verdict, he told supporters at Beyers Naude Square: ”They insulted me and called me names.”
Without identifying anyone, he added: ”Others were not doing it on their own but were sent by some people somewhere.”
Zuma said that he had all along maintained his innocence, making it clear he would not discuss the matter in the media but in court.
”But since 9am this morning, the judge has been going into what was factual and what not — and has finally concluded that I am innocent.”
Zuma was speaking from the steps of the Johannesburg Public Library.
”The trial ended this morning. It is over. But there is something I wish to tell you. I want to express my gratitude for supporting me at a time when the ‘educated’ people of this country said a lot of stuff trying to confuse the people’s minds.
”Ever since I was born I have never been involved in corruption and I will never be corrupt.”
He thanked his supporters for respecting the Constitution. — Sapa