I am pleased that the Mail & Guardian regarded the recent disbanding of the Medicines Control Council (MCC) as sufficiently important to run as a cover story (“Zuma shuts down health watchdog”, March 27 to April 2). As a medical practitioner, I’d appreciate the opportunity to convey my anger and disillusionment at the outcome of this issue.
Until Thabo Mbeki launched his recent assault on the MCC over its handling of Virodene, the council raised about as much political controversy as an anatomy textbook. Its job was to ensure that medicines available to South Africans complied with internationally accepted safety standards. It did its job well and enjoyed the confidence of the medical and pharmaceutical establishments.
The MCC entered the political arena for the first time when it found Virodene was insufficiently researched to be declared safe for clinical trials. Now the council has been closed. A considerable leap of faith is required to regard these events as coincidental.
New drugs mean big money for the pharmaceutical companies, but first a pharmaceutical standards body (like the MCC) must approve the product, so the potential for corruption is enormous. However, there were no allegations of corruption around the closure of the MCC, no abuse of funds, no suspicion of kickbacks from drug companies. The MCC was disbanded for applying the same accepted standards to Virodene as it did to all other drugs, for not bowing to political pressure to regard Virodene as a special case. In other words, the MCC was closed for doing its job properly.
Mbeki’s involvement in the issue is particularly disturbing, not least because his expertise in the field of medicine safety standards is not widely accepted. That he should choose an HIV-related drug as his entre into the arena should not cause surprise since the epidemic has become as valuable to politicians as it is to drug companies – who ever heard of a politician jumping up and down to have an anti-malarial or anti-tuberculosis drug fast-tracked for approval, though both of these diseases cause more death and disability than HIV and have been around since time immemorial?
The gloomy bit is that Mbeki didn’t stop at expressing his dinner-party opinion, unhindered by expertise, in public forum in his capacity as deputy president. He required that the MCC apply different standards to Virodene. They refused, and the MCC was closed down. Rule by decree doesn’t seem a long way off.
One hopes that the new standards authority will do as good a job in protecting the public as the MCC did, and will be equally reluctant to bend in the breeze. It will not, unfortunately, be regarded with immediate confidence by doctors, given that its instigation was politically motivated. It would also be difficult to imagine the distance between the medical community and the government being lessened by Mbeki’s and Minister of Health Dr Nkosazana Zuma’s handling of the matter, not that this would be regarded by the ministers as important, though it may fill another plane to Perth.
The only real victors are the sceptics who now have further potent fuel for the argument that in Africa yesterday’s self-sacrificing, highly principled liberators are tomorrow’s objectionable self-serving despots, and that the government’s distinction between the interests of the ANC and the interests of South Africa is becoming increasingly blurred so that opposition to or criticism of the ANC government is regarded as “undemocratic”, “ill-informed” or a “hankering for the dark old days of apartheid”.
My final comment concerns the grace with which Professor Peter Folb accepted the decision to close the MCC. Those who were really “playing God” in this issue could learn from this. — Jeremy Dyssell, Somerset West
A notifiable disease
It is such a pleasure to declare that the Pan Africanist Congress of Azania agrees completely with Dr Nkosazana Zuma in her reported intention to make Aids a notifiable disease (“Zuma axes another disagreeable health body”, April 3 to 8). We have been advocating this measure as a way forward in our health policy too.
It can be expected that there will be under-reporting, but her critics on this issue miss the point. Notification is a message to the public that it is a serious disease and that the public health sector will not just stand by and make a holy cow of confidentiality or concentrate on silly issues like promoting Virodene.
When tuberculosis was made notifiable there was a similar outcry. It should be remembered that there is a good degree of confidentiality within the notification system, which is designed to provide information for preventive programmes, contact tracing and health planning.
Yes, tuberculosis also went underground for a while, but the soundness of the idea soon became evident and today hardly any new cases are missed. The disease has long come out of the cupboard.
There should be no confusion – only Aids should be notifiable. A person who is HIV positive would not be notifiable; thus testing would not be driven underground but would remain a personal matter. (The PAC would insist that the insurance industry stop testing insurance applicants for HIV and thus make all policy-holders share the cost of this deadly epidemic.)
Zuma should go further. Antenatal testing of all pregnant women must be done routinely and those who are positive offered treatment for the last few weeks of pregnancy to reduce the risk to the baby by a third. AZT has been made cheaper to developing countries and the cost would be recouped rapidly because 60 000 babies at risk would be born virus-free every year! – Costa Gazi, secretary for health and welfare, PAC of Azania
Disregard for change
Firstly I would like to commend this newspaper for the journalistic stance you took when approaching the Robert McBride issue. It’s now clear to most critical South Africans that certain persons of high standing are ganging up against transformation.
However, the worrying factor is that they are all white. Recently, General Georg Meiring was one of them. (I am referring to the report submitted by him to President Nelson Mandela without counter-verification at any level.)
The way the report was handled shows disregard for transformation. In fact, I can argue they are the ones who are plotting the coup, thus making it look like others are involved. I find it completely unacceptable that the chief of defence is not able to counter-check sensitive details before making them public. The issue is either Meiring is involved, or he is incompetent as an official and thus deserves no place in the army.
He must go, together with his friends in the military intelligence. – Sipho Mbatha (not a brother of Vusi Mbatha), Cape Town
Doubtful point
Does the central point of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission submissions of professors Derek Philcox and Kay de Villiers imply that PW Botha could at one time distinguish right from wrong? Doubtful … ! – N Kowaleski, Portland State University
Cluster the ministries
Professor William Makgoba’s article “Less gravy will sweeten the pot” (March 13 to 19) may not be entirely pleasing, but provides some aspects, which are in line with the ideals of the Constitution, that can boost effective and efficient governance in this country.
Realising the need to re-organise our ministries in the context of our South African situation, Makgoba’s suggestion for a ministry of race becomes imperative. One of many objectives of the liberation struggle waged by South Africans both within and outside the country was the defeat of apartheid – rhetorically the mission is achieved. To ensure a no-return to apartheid condition, the suggestion for a ministry of race becomes a viable option to be pursued. Among its foci, the ministry will supervise transformation, within its scope, and thus set a national tone on racial issues.
The absence of specific legislation to protect victims of racism shows some loopholes in our transformation framework structure. Ordinary people on the ground continue to suffer various forms of racism – a case in point is the victim of brain damage by the Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging’s Eugene Terre’Blanche. This undermining of South Africa’s new democracy is also highlighted by the South African Rugby Football Union’s court action against Nelson Mandela, in which the whole circumstance reduces the president to a rugby ball.
Matthew Parks’s attack on Makgoba is personal to the extent of screwing itself below logical assumptions (Letters, March 20 to 26). The concept of the clustering of ministries should remain a topic of public discussion until something constructive emerges. Who knows, clustering could be the solution to Trevor Manuel’s cherished 2% deficit, thereby fobbing off the slicing off of underpaid workers from the public sector. – Thato Machobane, Hillbrow
Marketing quality
After reading Charlene Smith’s article on “The fall of flea markets” (April 3 to 8), I looked up “flea market” in an Oxford dictionary and found: flea market (humorous) – street market.
Street markets you’ll find all over the world, on quiet streets, plazas and open pieces of land. People who have anything to sell hire a few square metres and set up a stall. Goods sold at such flea markets are almost unlimited, except that over the years some controls were necessary for hygiene and dangerous items.
Smith mentioned in a few lines “the flea market” at the Michael Mount Waldorf School in Bryanston. Right from the market’s small beginning, more than 20 years ago, a selection committee was involved, evaluating all goods to be sold on their quality, craftsmanship and natural material in order to maintain a high standard.
Surely, that was easier in 1980 when there were only about 12 stallholders and most customers were parents of our school and people from the neighbourhood. As the market grew, some duplication of articles was unavoidable – thus also giving the customer a wider choice.
I would like Smith to know:
* there is a waiting list of already approved stallholders, but no stalls available as the market cannot expand further in size;
* we are a tremendous tourist attraction; and
* over the years many markets started and vanished again, but the Michael Mount Organic Market is alive and well. Why? High standards, pleasant environment, dedicated staff and stallholders and last, but not least, the many customers introducing their friends and family to our market. – Eve Segbour, stallholder, Michael Mount Organic Market
Scintillating debate
Congratulations to Lizeka Mda and Ronald Suresh Roberts for having the courage to reveal the racial subtexts below our often happy-clappy rainbow nation.
Roberts’s spirited defence of our Deputy President Thabo Mbeki (“A new voice for Afro-pessimism?”, April 3 to 8) against Mda’s inspired offensive (“A short leap to dictatorship”, March 27 to April 2) was truly lyrical. But the issues raised go far beyond media tenders or the Independent Broadcasting Authority.
Roberts is defending an already too defensive African National Congress government from what seems to be a legitimate charge of wanting to suppress media freedom and critical debate. How many accusations of disloyalty, even unpatriotism, of the white (liberal) press have come from Mbeki? But by making these accusations through the media, he has opened the critical public debates they seem to fear: debates on racism and Mbeki’s style of democracy.
The ANC government seems to be asking for protection. It may be they feel the need to protect a fragile rainbow, as if it could evaporate in hot light. The media feel the need to ask: “For what is this protection? How much, for how long, and what are the likely consequences of such ‘privileges’?” Is public debate itself not a vital organ of a fledgling democracy? What kind of dialogue is it if not robust and critical?
We also need to ask: “What is democracy without real choice, informed choice? And aren’t those who protect rainbows as if they are fragile illusions the real Afro-pessimists?”
I feel our rainbow is starting to shine even brighter under the light of such scrutiny. Yes, like every new country we have our abuses of power and privilege. But the fact is that Jay Naidoo still responds, in the media, to Robert Kirby’s cruel taunts, and Mbeki still tries to defend, in the media, his stance on Virodene.
Mda and Roberts have already started to criticise the racial perspectives of the “post-apartheid discourses” in scintillating debate. Congratulations, also, to the Mail & Guardian editor for hosting this important match of wits. Personally, I can’t imagine democracy without this. – Alan Jaffe, Eshowe
Very courageous, Lizeka Mda (“A short leap to dictatorship”, March 27 to April 2). I shall be watching to see whether any retribution follows, and I shall stand ready to do anything I can to help if it does. It’s about time somebody stood up to Mbeki.
Mbeki seems to expect everyone to respect him just because of his position, and not to give a damn about anyone’s standards, discipline or moral rectitude so long as they are loyal (and no threat) to him. I hope you get the editorship of the M&G as soon as Phillip van Niekerk takes up the top job at the South African Rugby Football Union. – Phil Hudson, Botswana
The real culprits
Hondklip Bay lies somewhere between Cape Town and the Orange River on the west coast. It was originally named Hondeklip Bay, but as there is only one dog in the town they reluctantly had to rename the town Hondklip.
If you have ever driven on the only road into the town you will have noticed the huge landscaping operation that is modifying the featureless coastal plain around the town: folk are looking for diamonds.
The same group that is mining in the Richtersveld is responsible for the mess around Hondklip. Most people ascribe this to De Beers, but the mess at Hondklip is due to Trans Hex Mining which, as your article (“Rape of the Richtersveld”, March 27 to April 2)pointed out, is a part of the Rembrandt group.
Trans Hex is no small chicken. It has been getting away with proverbial murder for a long time now. De Beers has traditionally taken all the flack, but I think it is time that the other small mining companies are brought into line and the true culprits take responsibility for their actions. -Philip Desmet, Kalk Bay
Healthy scepticism
Henry David Thoreau, when he was informed that he could communicate with someone on the other side of the United States by means of the newly invented telegraph, remarked acidly: “But I have nothing to say to such a person.”
Robert Kirby’s views (“Jay bones up on his Orwell”, March 20 to 26)about minister of communications Jay Naidoo’s approach to telecommunications in the South African context embody the sceptical, Thoreauian attitude, and there’s some truth in it.
Naidoo seems to think you can only harbour doubts about his policies if you simply do not care about empowerment and attributes this attitude to Kirby (“Vitriol from the white comfort zone”, March 27 to April 2), while profiling his own views on telecommunications as populist and democratic.
Considering the appalling illiteracy and poverty rate in this country, what does it mean to give “democratic access” to the disadvantaged? Shouldn’t more be spent on raising the standards of living and literacy before we try to link people up with the Web?
What annoys many people about Naidoo is, I feel, his inability or reluctance to face these difficulties. When faced with policy criticism, he starts talking like Marshall McLuhan: new technology means the realisation of everything which is fine and decent. There is little mention of the downside of technological development.
In the new South Africa, the downside might be a large class of people shut out of the information technology revolution, in spite of, and perhaps even due to, Naidoo, unless the communications minister is better co- ordinated with the minister of education, and the state of education improves dramatically.
And the idea that just sticking a computer and an Internet connection in every classroom will transform the situation confuses technology with magic. – Stuart Rennie, Stellenbosch
Racial chameleons
All strength to those who seek reclassification (“Changing colour with the times”, March 20 to 26). Indeed no citizen of the New South Africa should be bound by the classifications of the old regime.
It should be every citizen’s democratic right to seek reclassification. Thus, almost every so-called “white” citizen whose ancestry goes back to the slave-owning settler communities will be entitled to reclassify as coloured on the basis of Javanese, Khoisan and/or Negro genetic admixture. Most coloured people will be entitled to reclassification as white, and some even as black. And blacks who move into middle class suburbia will be allowed to reclassify as white.
Of course, when the balance changes and there are more blacks than whites in middle-class suburbia, the whites will be allowed to reclassify as black. A few decades of this and the absurdity of the policy of race classification, which should have been trashed in 1994, might become apparent. – Oliver Price, Fish Hoek
Helpful hospital staff
On two separate occasions recently I have been a patient at Ward 496 of Johannesburg hospital, and I would like to express my gratitude to all of the staff, who were always helpful and obliging. Nothing was ever too much trouble for them and they made my stay as pleasant as was humanly possible under the circumstances. – Audrey Herold, Yeoville