In addition to the many problems that surround the trial of any vaccine against HIV/AIDS, those sponsoring the VEE trial face the additional obstacle that the South African population is receiving mixed messages from its leaders.

Speaking publicly last month, president Thabo Mebki, who has angered many western scientists with his views that HIV does not cause AIDS, said that AIDS is acquired immune defense syndrome, and a syndrome can not be caused by a virus. He repeated his views—that HIV is a passenger virus and that the disease is caused by other factors—when addressing the parliamentary caucus of the African National Congress (ANC). He has now promised to remove himself from the debate to avoid further confusion.

He also told them that he and the government are the subject of propaganda by the American CIA and large pharmaceutical companies, partially because he has questioned the link between the virus and AIDS. But in spite of Mbeki's statements, the government is launching a R2 billion media campaign to clear up confusion over its stance on the issue. The campaign will be based on the premise that HIV is responsible for the disease.

This public relations exercise comes amid revelations that Members of Parliament benefit from a medical aid scheme, Parmed, that pays two thirds of the cost of anti-HIV therapy and provides AZT to pregnant MPs and those that have been raped. This is at odds with the government's policy for ordinary citizens which states that it is illegal to give AZT to rape victims, and with its charges that the drug is toxic. It has consistently refused to buy the drug at a 70% reduced price for use in mother-to-child transmission, and last month, Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang repeated her message to parliament that the government simply can not afford AIDS drugs for its people

Meanwhile, a meeting of the country's insurance experts, which also took place last month, stressed the implications of the disease for the economy. Rob Dorrington, professor of actuarial studies at the University of Capetown, told attendees that 13% of the country's 42 million people would be infected by the end of this year, and that life expectancy will drop to 41 years by 2010, by which time 45% of adults will be infected.