Nelson Mandela visits Zackie Achmat - 22 June 2002

Nelson Mandela visits Zackie Achmat with the intention to ask him to reconsider commencing antiretroviral therapy. Zackie respectfully refused Mandela's request prompting Mandela to say in a press conference after their meeting that Zackie "is a role model and his action is based on fundamental principles, which we all admire. the admiration for him is not confined only to the Western Cape or South Africa. People far beyond our borders are aware of the principled stand he has taken. It would have been feeble for me to come to him and say: "I want you now to change; to take drugs," becausehis position is that as long as drugs are not available to everybody especially the poor, he will not take them." Mandela left the meeting saying: "I have a case to take to the President of the country."

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