Originally Posted by miss_bellabellini

I'm South African and have a bi-racial family so I think I know a little bit about the situation over there;)

Mbeki got too wrapped up in media representations of Africa which focus on war, HIV/AIDS, poverty and everything else that is negative. There was nothing wrong with his criticism of the representation of the HIV/AIDS crisis in the media. There is a tendency to still only portray Africa like it is stuck in this primitive state like Joseph Conrad described in 'Heart of Darkness'.

He was worried that everyone overseas would see black Africans as diseased, overly sexual, and all the other negative assumptions that many people have about people living in Africa.

But that is an academic discussion that is better suited for a course in post-colonialism, or even media studies. It should not inform your national strategy on treating a real disease that is killing millions of people in the country where you are the president. He consulted with AIDS denialists, who have been discredited time and again, instead of scientists who wanted to help and had no hidden agendas.

Your earlier quote about the Treatment Action Campaign supporting Mbeki's strategy came after they protested against his policies for YEARS. They were just playing nice so that some sort of treatment plan could go ahead after Mbeki blocking everything for so long.