Manto Tshabalala-Msimang facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Manto Tshabalala-Msimang
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| Minister in the Presidency | |
| In office 25 September 2008 – 10 May 2009 |
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| President | Kgalema Motlanthe |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Trevor Manuel and Collins Chabane |
| 22nd Minister of Health | |
| In office 17 June 1999 – 25 September 2008 |
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| President | Thabo Mbeki Kgalema Motlanthe |
| Preceded by | Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma |
| Succeeded by | Barbara Hogan |
| Acting Minister of Communications | |
| In office 6 April 2009 – 10 May 2009 |
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| President | Kgalema Motlanthe |
| Preceded by | Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri |
| Succeeded by | Siphiwe Nyanda |
| Deputy Minister of Justice | |
| In office 1 July 1996 – 17 June 1999 |
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| President | Nelson Mandela |
| Minister | Dullah Omar |
| Member of the National Assembly of South Africa | |
| In office 29 April 1994 – 16 December 2009 |
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| Constituency | Durban |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Mantombazana Edmie Mali
9 October 1940 Durban, South Africa |
| Died | 16 December 2009 (aged 69) Johannesburg, South Africa |
| Political party | African National Congress |
| Spouses |
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| Children | 2 |
| Occupation |
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Mantombazana "Manto" Edmie Tshabalala-Msimang (born 9 October 1940 – died 16 December 2009) was an important South African politician. She was known for her work as a doctor and her role in the government.
She served as the Deputy Minister of Justice from 1996 to 1999. Later, she became the Minister of Health, a position she held from 1999 to 2008 under President Thabo Mbeki. After that, she was the Minister in the Presidency from September 2008 to May 2009.
During her time as Minister of Health, she focused on using natural foods like vegetables, garlic, and African potatoes to help people with AIDS. This approach caused a lot of discussion both in South Africa and around the world.
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Early Life and Education
Manto Tshabalala-Msimang was born as Mantombazana Edmie Mali in Durban, South Africa. She completed her studies at Fort Hare University in 1961.
She was one of many young members of the African National Congress (ANC) who went abroad for their education. She studied medicine in the Soviet Union from 1962 to 1969. After that, she trained in obstetrics and gynaecology in Tanzania, finishing in 1972. In 1980, she earned a master's degree in public health from the University of Antwerp in Belgium.
During the time of apartheid, she worked with the exiled ANC leaders in Tanzania and Zambia. Her job was to look after the health and well-being of ANC members living there.
Health Policies and AIDS
As Minister of Health, Tshabalala-Msimang's policies were often discussed. She was careful about using antiretroviral medicines (ARVs) widely in public hospitals to treat AIDS.
She was sometimes called Dr. Beetroot because she promoted foods like beetroot, garlic, lemons, and African potatoes for health. She believed these foods, along with good nutrition, were very important. She also mentioned that AIDS medicines could have side effects. Many people felt she was following the ideas of President Thabo Mbeki, who at one point questioned whether HIV caused AIDS.
In 2002, the South African government officially stated that "HIV causes AIDS." This helped to clear up any confusion on the topic among government officials. In August 2003, the government also decided to make ARVs available in public health centers. Tshabalala-Msimang was then asked to put this plan into action.
The Treatment Action Campaign (TAC), a group that fought for AIDS treatment, often criticized the minister. They believed the government and the Health Ministry were not doing enough to fight the AIDS epidemic. The TAC even campaigned for her to leave her position.
Tshabalala-Msimang believed in focusing on overall public health goals. She saw AIDS as one part of this larger effort. She also considered the high cost of HIV treatment and the fact that HIV was incurable at the time.
A well-known case was Nozipho Bhengu, whose mother was an ANC politician. Nozipho chose to use a diet of garlic and lemon, as suggested by the minister, instead of ARV treatments for AIDS.
In 2006, at the International AIDS Conference in Toronto, Stephen Lewis, a UN special envoy for AIDS in Africa, strongly criticized South Africa's government. He said the government had a "lunatic fringe" approach to HIV and AIDS. After this, many leading HIV/AIDS scientists asked President Thabo Mbeki to remove Tshabalala-Msimang from her post.
Traditional Medicines
In February 2008, Tshabalala-Msimang met with traditional healers to discuss new laws. She argued that traditional remedies should not be held back by strict clinical trials. She said, "We cannot use Western models of protocols for research and development."
In September 2008, she asked for better protection of the rights to Africa's traditional medicines. Speaking in Cameroon, she said that Africa should benefit more from its ancient knowledge of healing.
Personal Life and Health
Manto Tshabalala-Msimang married her first husband, Mandla Tshabalala, while they were both living in the Soviet Union. Later, she married Mendi Msimang, who was the treasurer of the African National Congress.
Her own health became a concern in late 2006. She was admitted to the Johannesburg Hospital in February 2007. She was suffering from anaemia (low red blood cells) and pleural effusion (fluid around the lungs). On 14 March 2007, she had a liver transplant. She recovered and returned to her duties as minister until 2008.
She passed away on 16 December 2009, due to problems related to her liver transplant.
Political Changes
In December 2007, Tshabalala-Msimang was re-elected to the ANC's National Executive Committee.
President Mbeki resigned in September 2008. When Kgalema Motlanthe became president, he moved Tshabalala-Msimang to the role of Minister in the Presidency. Barbara Hogan took over as the new Minister of Health.
When Jacob Zuma became president in May 2009, Tshabalala-Msimang was not included in his first group of ministers.
Death and Tributes
Manto Tshabalala-Msimang died on 16 December 2009, at a medical center in Johannesburg. Her doctor, Professor Jeff Wing, stated that she died from complications after her liver transplant.
Many people, including political opponents and friends, shared their sadness about her death:
- The Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) said, "We don't wish ill on any human being even though we had a very difficult time with her as minister of health. We are sending our condolences to her family and children."
- Helen Zille, leader of the Democratic Alliance, expressed her regrets to the family.
- COSATU president Sidumo Dlamini called her death "shocking news" and said, "South Africa is losing a great leader of the ANC."
See also
- HIV/AIDS in Africa
- Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge
- South African Department of Health
- List of members of the National Assembly of South Africa who died in office
