Kameraad Mhambi

China today denied that this video is true. This is one day after China congratulated countries – like South Africa – for refusing access to the Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama.

For their part Tibetans claim this video shows the brutality of the Chinese regime. The Chinese for their part claim Tibet as part of China and the Tibetans separatists.

Also today South Africa’s respected and outspoken health minister, Barbera Hogan criticised her own government for not allowing the Dalai Lama.

“Just the very fact that this government has refused entry to the Dalai Lama is an example of a government that is dismissive of human rights…

I believe [the government] needs to apologise to the citizens of this country, because it is in your name that this great man who has struggled for the rights of his country … has been denied access.”

What is remarkable to Mhambi is that the government never foresaw the furore that this decision would cause.

It speaks of arrogance and hubris and is not unlike the old Nationalists. It inflicted wounds on itself when the likes of Jimmy Kruger, then justice minister pronounced to global outrage that “dit laat my koud” when Steven Biko was murdered.

I will be interesting to see how the ANC deals with Hogan’s outspokenness. Hogan is a popular health minister with the backing of organised and vocal civil society groups like the TAC.

She is credited with placing the fight against HIV the center of ANC policy. Millions of South Africans suffer from HIV and Aids. Would the government fire her weeks before an election?

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