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Topic: It's okay, I washed off the AIDS...

Doug
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 44

posted 05 April 2006 02:26 PM

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4879822.stm

quote:
South African ex-Deputy President Jacob Zuma said he showered after sex with an HIV-positive woman, thinking this would reduce his risk of being infected.
This emerged as he was cross-questioned during his trial for rape. He denies rape but admits to consensual sex, and said he was ready to marry his accuser.

But this isn't the best part...

quote:
Before being sacked as deputy president last year, Mr Zuma headed the government's National Aids Council and the Moral Regeneration Campaign.

Public people who get into trouble over sex always seem to have nifty titles like this.

From: Toronto, Canada | Registered: Apr 2001 | IP: Logged

Hephaestion
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 4795

posted 05 April 2006 03:11 PM

It is not only pathetic that someone as influential as the "South African ex-Deputy President" (not to mention that someone who is *also* the "headed the government's National Aids Council and the Moral Regeneration Campaign") would be so ignorant and ill-informed as to think showering "would reduce his risk of being infected" with AIDS, but the appalling stupidity doesn't end with him, or his ouster...

South African AIDS Group Excluded From UN HIV Sessions

quote:
South Africa's leading HIV/AIDS organization says the government has barred it from attending a United Nations Special Session on AIDS.

Dozens of AIDS advocacy groups from around the world are expected to attend the Special Session of the General Assembly to be held from May 31 to June 2 in New York.

The Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) with not be among them, however. TAC says the government's refusal to allow it to participate is "unconscionable".

The organization, which was nominated for a Nobel Prize in 2004, has been a constant thorn in the side of the South African government.

[...]

South Africa is home to about 5.3 million people living with HIV/AIDS - the largest number of any country in the world.

[...]

The apparent government decision drew criticism Monday from the UN's special envoy on HIV/Aids in Africa, Stephen Lewis.

Lewis said it was "absolutely outrageous" that the TAC had been excluded. "The TAC is the single most credible non-governmental Aids organisation in the world. It carries enormous credibility with NGOs and governments and enjoys credibility with everyone - apart from the South African government."

[ 05 April 2006: Message edited by: Hephaestion ]

From: goodbye... :-( | Registered: Dec 2003 | IP: Logged

Heavy Sharper
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 11809

posted 05 April 2006 11:38 PM

Hopefully the Communist Party will leave the ANC and lead a credible progressive alternative.

From: Calgary | Registered: Jan 2006 | IP: Logged

Doug
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 44

posted 06 April 2006 04:25 AM

Whether right or left-wing, South Africa does badly need an opposition party that's a credible threat to the ANC. It's an unfortunate fact that routinely winning that much of the vote tends to make politicians lazy.

From: Toronto, Canada | Registered: Apr 2001 | IP: Logged

Willowdale Wizard
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 3674

posted 06 April 2006 10:48 AM

now that zuma is not in the frame, some commentators feel that the race to succeed mbeki will become rather nasty.

in terms of an opposition force to the government, COSATU is trying to highlight problems of corruption.

From: england (hometown of toronto) | Registered: Jan 2003 | IP: Logged

Boarsbreath
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 9831

posted 06 April 2006 09:55 PM

AIDS is serious, but the problem evident here is way more serious. This guy was in line to succeed Mbeki...he's profoundly stupid, and ignorant, yet can lead the country; or else the political atmosphere is such that he can tell such a risible story and think it possible to be accepted.

They're criminally callous goofs on the AIDS front, the ANC leadership; how much can be expected of them in everything else they have power over (or opportunities to improve)?

Cry still, beloved country

From: South Seas, ex Montreal | Registered: Jul 2005 | IP: Logged

Doug
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 44

posted 08 April 2006 05:02 PM

Here's more on this, including the best comment about unprotected sex I've ever read.

quote:
One of the country's top cartoonists, Zapiro, summed it all up with a sketch about "The Jacob Zuma Moral DE-generation Handbook".
Under a code of ethics, is Point 3: "Before casual unprotected sex, remove brain and place on bedside table".

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/4888146.stm

From: Toronto, Canada | Registered: Apr 2001 | IP: Logged

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