Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2009. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Sunday Times (Johannesburg) - November 17, 2009
The documentary, entitled Price of Denial, investigates the price South Africa is paying for Mbeki's policy of denial about HIV/Aids.
It shows how thousands of babies were unnecessarily infected with the virus even though pharmaceutical companies had offered nevirapine free of charge to the state, reports Beeld newspaper.
It shows how thousands of babies were unnecessarily infected with the virus even though pharmaceutical companies had offered nevirapine free of charge to the state, Beeld reports.
It was earlier reported that the programme was originally made for the SABC's Special Assignment but the public broadcaster decided the allegations against Mbeki were too controversial to broadcast.
The SABC insists, rather, that they did not broadcast the programme because it lacked balance.
SABC spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago told Times LIVE the show did not offer the right to reply, saying that if someone is accused of causing the deaths of 330,000 people, he must be given the opportunity to respond to so serious an allegation.
Kganyago added that it is absurd to allege that the SABC acted out of fear of the ANC, because Thabo Mbeki is not currently an active member of ANC structures.
The SABC also say they did not commission the documentary. Rather, it was presented to them, and rejected for not meeting internal editorial policies.
The documentary will be screened at 9.30pm on eTV tonight.
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