Is ‘Dr Death’ (alias Wouter Basson) a criminal or hero?

Question

I'm asking because his head is on the chopping block, yet he still gets a monthly salary of R50 000 from the South African National Defence Force although he was suspended in 1999, according to this recent article http://www.news24.com/City_Press/News/0,,186-187_2074581,00.html

Answer 1

I dont think you can class him as either because nothing has been proven against him. He was found "not guilty" of the criminal charges put to him although in saying that any person who is responsible, directly or indirectly, for the production and/or distribution of chemical weapons is a monster. The latest episode concerns his right to continue practising medicine using "ethical standards" or lack of them as the reason and is a private "charge" brought by 2 medical practioners in Cape Town.I dont think there is any question of his qualifications or malpractice concerning individuals and to me it is more a "political" charge than anything else.As far as I know he has never stopped practising and was in fact PW Botha's Doctor.If anyone should have a red face it is the Medical Board who have taken so long to hear the case citing the Criminal Trial as the reason. You cant blame Basson for accepting his monthly salary although personally I think it stinks but there have been many other case involving Municipal/Government officials that were paid and it took ages to get the matter resolved.They should have suspended Basson without pay on the basis that when he eventually got a Hearing and if he was found not guilty they would pay the arrears due to him.
If you stand back and look at it completely unemotionally then you have to ask yourself the question why isn't the Health Minister facing the same charges. In her case millions have died as an indirect result of her Policies on HIV/AIDS and the non distribution of ARV's.The proof against her is overwhelming be it the vegetable stand in Toronto or being likened to the "lunatic fringe" by the UN Representative for Africa. This of course brings you back to the "political" reasons being behind Basson's Hearing and there is no doubt the ANC want revenge against him. Regardless of what anyone personally thinks of Basson he is a highly qualified Specialist and South Africa needs the skill. I doubt if they wil have him barred from practice and then it becomes a matter of individual choice as to whether one consults with him or another Specialist.

Answer 2

There has been so much hype around Basson that it is hard to separate fact from fiction. He was acquitted after that mammoth trial, where the prosecution spent two years collecting evidence, so a lot of the charges seem to be hype.

I would hardly call the Health professional council a "chopping block." Our minister of health, who is morally responsible for the death of hundreds of thousands, was also reported to the council. She was not reprimanded by the council because her work was deemed to be outside the council's jurisdiction. Based on that precedent one would assume that Basson's SADF work would also fall outside the council's jurisdiction.

As for the paid suspension - that just shows how incompetent the SANDF Human Resources Department is. They were obviously hoping to dismiss him when he was found guilty. When he wasn't no one in the SANDF has the knowledge of the labour laws to make him leave. A large number of government departments have people that have been on paid suspension for years. This incompetence costs the country millions each month.

I wouldn't call Basson a criminal because he hasn't been found guilty in court. I wouldn't call him a hero either because I think his SADF area of expertise is is ethically suspect. I would say he is a bright guy who was sucked willingly into the Apartheid machine.

Every time the ANC mess up they direct attention away from their activities by savaging one of their old enemies. I think Basson is being used to make the media look away from the Travelgate scam.

Answer 3

Mmmmm, good question, I don't know. R50 000 a month (???) and not even working....! (Life sometimes seems so easy with these guys, how?????)

Answer 4

First they make the public think he is a bad guy....
Then he appears on the ANC's Payroll

Wonder Why???

Answer 5

To me he is a criminal!!!! And it is a waste of our tax money to pay him.... Oh, I don't know, we've become so PC, we are scared of infringing his rights. MY FOOT!!!

Answer 6

He is sommer 'n doos