20 Facts About Manto Tshabalala-Msimang

Mantombazana "Manto" Edmie Tshabalala-Msimang OMSS was a South African politician.

Manto Tshabalala-Msimang was Deputy Minister of Justice from 1996 to 1999 and served as Minister of Health from 1999 to 2008 under President Thabo Mbeki.

Manto Tshabalala-Msimang served as Minister in the Presidency under President Kgalema Motlanthe from September 2008 to May 2009.

Manto Tshabalala-Msimang then trained as a registrar in obstetrics and gynaecology in Tanzania, finishing there in 1972.

Manto Tshabalala-Msimang was an official within the exiled ANC leadership in Tanzania and Zambia during the latter decade of apartheid, with job responsibilities focused on the health and well-being of ANC militants there.

When interviewed by Radio 702 presenter John Robbie in 2000, Manto Tshabalala-Msimang refused to say whether she believed HIV caused AIDS.

Manto Tshabalala-Msimang was called Dr Beetroot for promoting the benefits of beetroot, garlic, lemons, and African potatoes as well as good general nutrition, while referring to the possible toxicities of AIDS medicines.

Manto Tshabalala-Msimang was widely seen as following an AIDS policy in line with the ideas of South African President Thabo Mbeki, who for a time publicly expressed doubts about whether HIV caused AIDS.

The TAC accused Manto Tshabalala-Msimang of being aligned with Matthias Rath, a German physician and vitamin entrepreneur, who had charges laid against him for discouraging the use of ARVs.

Manto Tshabalala-Msimang placed her emphasis on broad public health goals, seeing AIDS as only one aspect of that effort and one which, because of the incurable nature of HIV and financial costs of HIV treatment, might impede broader efforts to improve public health.

Manto Tshabalala-Msimang said South Africa promoted a "lunatic fringe" attitude toward HIV and AIDS, describing the government as "obtuse, dilatory, and negligent about rolling out treatment".

At a meeting with traditional healers to discuss future legislation in February 2008, Manto Tshabalala-Msimang argued that traditional remedies should not become "bogged down" in clinical trials, saying, "We cannot use Western models of protocols for research and development".

In September 2008, Manto Tshabalala-Msimang called for greater protection of the intellectual rights of Africa's traditional medicines.

Manto Tshabalala-Msimang married her first husband, Mandla Tshabalala, while both were in exile in the Soviet Union.

Concern over Manto Tshabalala-Msimang's health came to the fore in late 2006.

Manto Tshabalala-Msimang was admitted to the Johannesburg Hospital on 20 February 2007, suffering from anaemia and pleural effusion.

Manto Tshabalala-Msimang subsequently recovered her health and returned to her Ministerial duties until her replacement as health minister in 2008.

Manto Tshabalala-Msimang threatened legal action against the newspaper on the grounds that they were in possession of her medical records.

Manto Tshabalala-Msimang was not included in the first Cabinet of President Jacob Zuma, announced on 10 May 2009.

Manto Tshabalala-Msimang died on 16 December 2009 at the Wits University Donald Gordon Medical Centre and Medi-Clinic ICU.