The presidential task team on African traditional medicines has been compromised by the inclusion of Professor Herbert Vilakazi and advocate Christine Qunta, the Democratic Alliance (DA) said on Monday.
The inclusion of Vilakazi and Qunta is a giant step backwards in developing a regulatory framework for traditional medicines, DA spokesperson Gareth Morgan said in a statement.
Millions of South Africans use traditional healers, and they have a critical part to play in combating HIV/Aids and other diseases.
An appropriate evaluation system for traditional medicines will therefore be of enormous benefit to all South Africans, and the DA welcomed the government’s efforts to develop one.
”But the appointment of Vilakazi and Qunta to this task team will compromise the process from the start — particularly as Vilakazi, the most tainted of all the members, is the chairperson,” he said.
Vilakazi has been a key player in marketing Ubhejane, which is being sold to the public at enormous cost as a ”cure for Aids”, although there is no evidence about its efficacy.
This is in direct contravention of the Medicines Act, which states that the Medicines Control Council has to approve any medicine before it can be sold to the public.
”Vilakazi therefore is not only acting in contravention of the law, but has a clear vested interest in a particular product. Both of these factors should exclude him from membership of such a body.”
Moreover, in presentations to the health portfolio committee earlier this year, Vilakazi presented anecdotes about Ubhejane as if it were established fact, showing an inability to differentiate between conjecture and science — another factor that should disqualify him.
Qunta had strongly associated herself with Aids dissidents, and in particular with controversial vitamin entrepreneur Matthias Rath.
”Her support for theories, which have been completely discredited, and for which no scientific evidence exists, should also disqualify her,” Morgan said.
The task team was appointed on October 11. — Sapa