The dismissal of South Africa’s health minister has raised hopes among HIV/Aids campaigners for a dramatic departure from policies they say have contributed to an acute health crisis in the country with the world’s highest number of people infected with the virus. Manto Tshabalala-Msimang lost her job this week as part of the upheavals that saw Thabo Mbeki’s nine-year presidency brought to a premature end.
Activists welcomed the appointment of her successor, Barbara Hogan, one of the few MPs from the ruling party who spoke out against Mr Mbeki’s stance disputing links between HIV and Aids, saying they hoped for greater spending, especially on preventing transition from mother to child. About 5.6m of South Africa’s 47m population are HIV positive.
Tom Burgis, Johannesburg
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