Community Property Association member Willem Vilander is one of four members involved in the HIV/AIDS prevention campaign. The CPA represents 900 Khomani San claimants for land in the Kalahari, Northern Cape, South Africa. Pic: Katherine Muick. 14/7/04. © ST.

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To commit genocide one needs to act in a manner to intentionally kill a selection of people.

A reckless driver cannot be charged with murder if someone dies as a result, as the driver did not intend to kill anyone.

However, if the driver was grossly negligent, he or she can be charged with culpable homicide as deaths are as a result of his or her careless behaviour.

I am sure Mbeki did not intend for the estimated 300000 Aids-related deaths to occur and he certainly did not order people's infection with HIV/Aids. Still, his decade of being involved in Aids denialism could have him charged with culpable genocide.

Nevertheless the Aids crisis should be a national priority and all available resources need to be utilised in awareness campaigns and the provision of antiretrovirals if we are to reduce a 34% national HIV-positive rate.

Although President Jacob Zuma deserves credit for his standpoint on the pandemic, let's not blame Mbeki. We must all take responsibility.

We have been warned: think carefully about the consequences of your actions in the light of this horrific and deadly pandemic.

There is no cure in sight - not even on the distant horizon.