Disease and his friend, Politics

[Advertising 21 May]( [Mail & Guardian Newsletter logo](#) [mg.co.za]( [The Ampersand Daily Newsletter from the M&G team](#) [Divider Strip] May 21 2020 | [View in browser]( [Divider Strip] [Facebook icon]( [Twitter icon]( [Instagram icon]( [LinkedIn icon]( Hi there, Cleanliness, or rather the appearance of it, is deeply political. Whom we attribute hygiene and purity to also reveals our prejudices like nothing else. While we all internalise the mantra that "cleanliness is next to godliness" we often need reminding that disease is political. Unfortunately, this crisis is almost a glance back in time. When the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) first gripped the public's attention, it had already laid waste to countless lives in black and gay communities. This led to the alarmingly widely held belief that only members of those communities could contract it. What happened next left an indelible mark on our history. Unfortunately how that crisis played out in the United States and in South Africa is happening all over again but this time, with social media, we are watching it in real-time. Randy Shilts' masterpiece [And the Band Played On]( documents how who got infected, the mode of transmission and its pervasiveness in certain communities drove politics, not humanity, to the forefront of how it was managed. The book does have its drawbacks and blindspots, but it makes for horrifying and compelling reading. The book (and later TV docudrama) does encompass the sheer magnitude of the lives needlessly lost as politicians allowed it to spread unchecked while the most trusted institutions ignored or denied the threat. Throughout the film, one scientist in particular becomes a co-antagonist to the as yet unidentified disease. Instead of fighting HIV and trying to save lives, it appears his quest is the glory of going down in history as the man who discovered it. Recently, there appear to be rumblings of dissent in South Africa's high-level Covid-19 committee. As the country's lockdown continues it has become apparent that scientists are not immune to politicking and disagreements [if this statement]( by the Health Minister Zweli Mkhize is anything to go by. "Divergent views by scientists are healthy and welcome", Mkhize writes, after alleging that Dr Glenda Gray has made factually incorrect and unfounded statements to the media, "causing unnecessary anxiety to our citizens." Keep in mind that on Tuesday evening, Mkhize told us what we already know - this pandemic is not going anywhere anytime soon. In this sobering report by Laura Lopez Gonzalez of the Bhekisisa Centre for Health Journalism,[40 000 South Africans could die from complications]( related to Covid-19 by November. We simply cannot afford in-fighting and squabbles. What else is happening in the digital newsroom If you're able to, this is a critical moment to support our newsroom with a [subscription or donation](. Our intrepid Africa editor, Simon Allison, will be a panellist on a webinar hosted by the [South Africa Media Innovation Program](. They will be discussing [The Continent]( a weekly newspaper produced in partnership with the Mail & Guardian showcasing the best reporting from journalists across Africa which is made to be read and shared on WhatsApp. Yours in solidarity Kiri Rupiah & Luke Feltham [Divider Strip] [Ad]( [Divider Strip] [Facebook icon]( [Twitter icon]( [Instagram icon]( [LinkedIn icon]( You are receiving this email on {EMAIL} because 1.) You're a member of "Mail & Guardian" or 2.) previously subscribed [M&G logo] 25 Owl St, Braamfontein Werf, Johannesburg, 2092 Want to be removed? No problem! [UNSUBSCRIBE]( Email support: help@media-connect.co.za - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -