Johannesburg - The South African government's most powerful ally - the country's trade union confederation Cosatu - has accused President Thabo Mbeki of causing confusion and costing lives by questioning the link between HIV and AIDS. Mr Mbeki was forced to listen impassively yesterday while trade unionists at the annual meeting of the Congress of South African Trade Unions loudly applauded their leader, Mr Willie Madisha, as he condemned the President on an issue that is causing as much friction between the unions and government as economic policy.
When Mr Mbeki spoke immediately afterwards, he made only a fleeting reference to AIDS as a cause of people being unable to work.