The South African economy, though ailing, still enjoys being the superpower in Africa. Add to this quagmire the decrease in life expectancy and high infant mortality. Thousands more, it is expected, are to succumb today, tomorrow, and yesterday, to this big disease with a small name. Yes, blame has been apportioned as to why all of this is going on. African men sleep with young girls in a belief that they ll be cured of the disease.
Young girls sleep randomly with older men for survival as poverty is rife.
There are numerous theories and guesstimations of what's really going on. One of the most poignant and memorable of the theories is that of the president of South Africa, Tabo Mbeki, one of the most influential people in the country. At least for a while that was the rap on him. His stance on AIDS remains ambiguous and probably will mark his presidency. Until the country finds some sobriety on the dizzying issue of AIDS and HIV, conspiracy theories will continue to abound and shape debates on the epidemic.