‘But first Government and the ANC must apologise,' says De Lille

ID President Patricia de Lille has welcomed President Jacob Zuma's comments to CNN that his predecessor, Thabo Mbeki, had contradicted government and party directives on HIV and Aids, saying ‘this is a step in the right direction in terms of restoring our nation's international reputation.

‘However, what is far more important is that Zuma, as the leader of the ANC and Government, apologises to the relatives and friends of the estimated 330 000 South Africans that died because of the ANC Government's failure to provide them with ARVs between 2000 and 2005,' Ms De Lille says.

‘After that Parliament should convene a Truth Commission into the hundreds of thousands of unnecessary deaths.

‘The ID strongly rejects President Zuma's assertion that Mbeki had his "personal views" on HIV and Aids and that it was those views that were running the country,' says De Lille.

‘As the highest level ANC appointment, Mbeki at all times represented the policies of the ANC.

‘It is a massive indictment on the ANC that at a time when Mbeki's so-called "personal views" were leading to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of poor South Africans, people like Joel Netshitenze, Trevor Manuel and particularly Jacob Zuma, who was sacked as Mbeki's Deputy President only in 2005, either openly supported Mbeki or remained silent.

‘The apology from Zuma should also coincide with the removal of Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, who continues to serve as a Member of Parliament for the ANC, from her position,' says De Lille.