22 June 2002

Nelson Mandela visited Zackie Achmat with the intention to ask him to reconsider commencing antiretroviral therapy. Zackie respectfully refused Mandela's request prompting Mandela to say in a press conference after their meeting that Zackie "is a role model and his action is based on fundamental principles, which we all admire." "People far beyond our borders are aware of the principled stand that he has taken. It would have been feeble for me to come to him to say: "I want you now to change; to take drugs," because his position is that as long as drugs are not available to everybody especially the poor, he will not take them."

Nelson Mandela visits Zackie Achmat at home

Nelson Mandela visited Zackie Achmat with the intention to ask him to reconsider commencing antiretroviral therapy. Zackie respectfully refused Mandela's request prompting Mandela to say in a press conference after their meeting that Zackie "is a role model and his action is based on fundamental principles, which we all admire." "People far beyond our borders are aware of the principled stand that he has taken. It would have been feeble for me to come to him to say: "I want you now to change; to take drugs," because his position is that as long as drugs are not available to everybody especially the poor, he will not take them."