More confusion about South African President's stance on HIV.

The ruling African National Congress party and the Health Minister have moved into damage-control mode to counter increasing confusion about President Thabo Mbeki's exact position on the link between HIV and AIDS in South Africa. Commentators said that the more the government has tried to explain the cause of AIDS, the more confused the public and the media have become. Moreover, the government took the step of placing advertisements in national newspapers to explain the stance of the president. It is noted that the president has failed to reveal and state unequivocally that HIV is the cause of AIDS. Meanwhile, the media was accused of sensationalist reporting of the issue. In view of such, Health Minister, Mantho Tshabalala Msimang decided to meet newspaper editors to discuss the communication breakdown on HIV/AIDS.