The minister of health said her department could not have been expected to consult every NGO about a R14- million Aids play. Vuyo Mvoko and Justin Pearce report
Minister of Health Nkosazana Zuma has defended her department’s decision to spend R14,27-million on the production of a play on Aids awareness, despite massive criticism from non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
Sarafina II, written and produced by award-winning playwright Mbongeni Ngema and performed by his company, Mbongeni Ngema and Committed Artists, premiered in KwaZulu-Natal on World Aids Day, December 1, last year.
Zuma said on her arrival back from Cuba yesterday that all the provinces had been consulted about the play and there had been no objections. She said the department could not be expected to consult every NGO. Aids doesn’t consult, it infects people. She said Ngema was well-known and she couldn’t think of a better person to write or produce a play about Aids. Perhaps people are jealous because the money was given to a black person.
Dr Olive Shisana, director general in the Department of Health, has dismissed accusations that too much money has been spent on the production. In additon: she said, no taxpayer’s money went to the project, the entire amount was donated by the European Union.
Meanwhile, chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health Dr Manto Tshabalala denied reports that this week the committee had launched an investigation into the issue. But, Tshabalala said: It does not matter where the money came from. It is for the development of this country and it should be used wisely.
Shisana said in the rural areas where information on Aids is lacking, there were no facilities such as halls, electricity and transport. Inevitably under those circumstances, she said, costs would be high. The play is an innovative way of getting the message to a group of young people who are more susceptible, more at risk. she said.
She dismissed previously reported criticisms that a production similar to Sarafina II could be done for no more than R2-million. Why haven’t they produced anything for that R2-million? she asked, and who is to say life is not worth R14-million?
Shisana said a mechanism has been put in place to evaluate the success of the play, and after all, people can view a play differently.
We are not apologetic about what we have done. The previous government paid no attention to the Aids crisis, she said, adding the new government has allocated R70-million to Aids while the apartheid one gave only R20-million.
The theatre company refused to comment until a press conference next week, to be adressed by Zuma, Shisana and Ngema. Shisana, however, hinted that nothing from the press conference will change the status quo.