Thursday, 02 June 2005
Letter to the Editor
It is insensitive and disingenuous for last week's editorial of the City Press (9 January, Mandela could have done more on fighting stigma) to suggest that the announcement by the Mandela family that Makgatho Mandela was HIV positive and died from HIV/AIDS related diseases was too little, too late.
As the majority of South Africans have shown, this public announcement is a major contribution by former President Nelson Mandela personally and the Mandela family as a whole towards the destigmatisation of HIV/AIDS. The family cannot be blamed for announcing this fact after Makgatho's death. Madiba has been an HIV/AIDS activist in his own right. Madiba's long-standing HIV/AIDS activism and personal example has contributed to highlight the impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, mobilise resources to fight it and to destigmatise HIV/AIDS.
The same editorial insults the Mandela family when it states that the City Press had long suspected that Makgatho was HIV positive when he was admitted to hospital. This sensational speculation disrespects privacy and space for the Mandela family to mourn Makgatho. The City Press did the same when in 2002 it falsely reported that Nomakhwezi Hani died from abuse of drugs. So much for a distinctly African newspaper!
Our country needs a conscious and activist media which contributes positively to the struggle against HIV/AIDS. The City Press is failing this challenge.
Mazibuko K. Jara
Head of the Office of the General Secretary
South African Communist Party
12 January 2004