The scientific community\u2019s support for South Africa\u2019s management of the coronavirus outbreak risks being undermined by the health ministry\u2019s harsh response to criticism from a leading expert.<\/p>\n
Glenda Gray, president of the South African Medical Research Council and a member of a virus advisory council appointed by health Minister Zweli Mkhize, told local media on May 16 that some government measures to deal with the outbreak were unscientific and cases of malnutrition had been detected at the country\u2019s biggest hospital.<\/p>\n
Mkhize has accused her of lying while Anban Pillay, the acting director general of the health department, demanded that the research council investigate her conduct.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou cross the line from accountability to a witch hunt when you say I now want to investigate someone because of remarks they made,\u201d said Adam Habib, vice chancellor of Johannesburg\u2019s University of The Witwatersrand.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat, I think, can have very dangerous consequences for society and the management of this epidemic.\u201d<\/p>\n
Aids Denial<\/strong><\/p>\n The spat has echoes of attacks on experts who stood up to former president Thabo Mbeki when he questioned the severity of South Africa\u2019s Aids epidemic despite it being the world\u2019s largest. His administration\u2019s failure to provide treatment probably caused the premature deaths of more than 330,000 people between 2000 to 2005, according to a 2008 study by the Harvard School of Public Health.<\/p>\n A petition supporting Gray has been signed by more than 300 academics and the Academy of Science of South Africa decried the call for a probe, which the MRC\u2019s board agreed to.<\/p>\n \u201cAcademics and researchers need the space to undertake independent research in an environment that is free from fear, intimidation and political interference,\u201d the association said in a statement on Monday.<\/p>\n \u201cTo threaten researchers and to muzzle their voice would have a chilling effect on creativity, innovation and experimentation.\u201d<\/p>\n Mkhize last week disputed Gray\u2019s comments on malnutrition and rejected her statement that the government was ignoring scientific advice.<\/p>\n President\u2019s Intervention<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cWhat we cannot tolerate is a person making false statements,\u201d Pillay said in an interview on Monday. \u201cThe MAC advises the minister on health matters, not economic matters.\u201d<\/p>\n South African president Cyril Ramaphosa has attempted to defuse the crisis, which threatens to erode praise for his administration\u2019s response to the pandemic by closing borders and imposing a lockdown.<\/p>\n The government appreciates \u201cthe diverse and sometimes challenging views\u201d of scientists and health professionals, he said in a televised address on May 24.<\/p>\n Gray declined to comment. Emails to the secretariat of the research council and Johnny Mahlangu, its chairman, weren\u2019t answered.<\/p>\n In a letter to Pillay, seen by Bloomberg, Mahlangu apologized for Gray\u2019s conduct, said an investigation would be undertaken and requested a meeting with the acting director general and the minister.<\/p>\n In later communications, the council said Gray had been cleared and she thanked the MRC for its swift action.<\/p>\n \u201cScientists were very very negatively penalized during the Aids dissident era,\u201d Habib said. \u201cI don\u2019t think we are there with this. I don\u2019t want us to create the circumstances where we go there.\u201d<\/p>\n
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