Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2000. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Daily Mail and Guardian (Johannesburg) - September 5, 2000
Staff Reporter
Tshabalala-Msimang distributed copies of a chapter of William Cooper's book, Behold, a Pale Horse, to all Health MECs and provincial premiers.
Among Cooper's theories are that John F Kennedy's death, invasions from outer space and Aids are linked to a conspiracy by the Illuminati - a highly secretive international organisation - to reduce the world population.
Tshabalala-Msimang's representative, Patricia Lambert, described the move as a routine exchange of information, and said the fact that the minister had passed on the document, which was sent unsolicited and anonymously to the ministry, did not mean she identified with it.
We've seen pretty odd stuff, and this was some of it," she added. Cooper claims the Illuminati introduced Aids to Africa in 1978 through the smallpox vaccine in an attempt to reduce the African population.
Sandy Kalyan, a spokeswoman for the opposition Democratic Alliance (DA), said she was shocked the minister appeared to be taking Cooper's views seriously. Kalyan said Cooper's views have been universally rejected, even by extremist conspiracy theory supporters, and he has been labelled a "publicity crazy liar" whose writings should not be taken seriously.
The distribution of the document follows controversy earlier this year over President Thabo Mbeki's courting of foreign Aids dissidents, some of whom believe Aids does not exist, and others who believe it is caused by poverty and poor hygiene, not by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus.
"As far as we're concerned there's nothing unusual at all in this case, because it's part of stuff she routinely sends to the provinces so they can be aware of the kind of stuff that's coming into her office, said Lambert. "It certainly doesn't mean the minister is persuaded by this theory."
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