Some South African politics for a change.

[Brendan]

http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0,,2-7-1442_2009000,00.html

Welcome to Africa.

Our esteemed Minister Of Health Minister who thinks garlic, beetroot and african sweet potato cures HIV/Aids and goes on regular tirades against western medicine is in hospital with a lung infection.

My question is this. Will the doctors and nurses be treating her with the latest in garlic and beet technology?

[Rob Beschizza]

For years, whenever I heard "South African politics" I would think of P.W. Botha wearing a blazing tyre around his neck, glaring menacingly out through the flames, hissing at me, "Yor Unda Errest, fella!"

You're not helping, Brendan!

Seriously, though, it is good when the facts come along to dispel rhetoric. I wish your health minister a speedy recovery and a long life, thanks to empirical medical science.

[Brendan]

While I am a complete asshole who hates her guts I must grudgingly grant her a little respect for insisting that she be treated in a public hospital as opposed to a private hospital.

[extarbags]

Our esteemed Minister Of Health Minister who thinks garlic, beetroot and african sweet potato cures HIV/Aids

This is not the worst thing that some people in Africa think cures AIDS.

[Ergo]

Sleeping with a virgin will cure AIDS.

[Enidigm]

I've heard of this woman for some time. What's her angle in all this, is she appealing to some sort of anti-science sentiments amongst the native population? Some wierd kind of pro-S.African, anti-Western logic that says anything - whether knowledge, culture, or medicine- not African is false?

Or is she simply a shill for the beetroot lobby?

BTW, we have many cantalopes here in Texas. I hear on good authority that cantalope not only cures AIDS but makes you smarter, more virile, and have good lifelong health. It is also a perfect food such that one can live for a whole day on but a single melon! When can i have a S. African permit to begin importing these miracle melons and selling them for 1000% profit?

We also have lots of exotic squashes and gourds you guys should be importing by the truckful. By God! I can't imagine how your the people of your country have managed to stay alive this long without Acorn Squash to sustain them.