October 2003

Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang sends Tine van der Maas, a retired Dutch nurse to treat Khabzela. Maas sells a nostrum called “Africa’s Solution” as an AIDS remedy and recommends that people fight HIV through diet rather than through ARV therapy. Even though Khabzela’s CD4 count is 2 van der Maas says: “He doesn’t want ARVs. I say to him it is not necessary.”

Siyayinqoba Beat It! 2004 Episode 15 - False and Fraudulent Cures

Fana Khaba, aka DJ Khabzela, disclosed his HIV positive status publicly on the popular youth radio station, Yfm in May 2003. Khabzela the host of the most popular show on the station chose however not to take antiretrovirals once his HIV had progressed to full blown AIDS. Instead he opted for various other unproven remedies (supported by the South African Minister of Health) that would hold no benefits for his ailing health. In this episode the Siyayinqoba Beat It! discussed why people opt for unproven remedies and asked what can be done to ensure that fraudulent claims and false cures are exposed and restricted.