Bill Gates expresses hope for Africa

PHILANTROPIST and billionaire Bill Gates partly funded South Africa’s first democratic elections in 1994 at the request of then ANC president Nelson Mandela.

Gates did not reveal how much he contributed to the elections when he delivered the 14th annual Nelson Mandela lecture at the University of Pretoria’s Mamelodi campus, only saying “I did what I [did] to help”.

“I first spoke to Mandela in 1994,” he said. The Microsoft founder, who now runs the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, told the over 3 300 guests and dignitaries that he was honoured to give a lecture named after Mandela. The lecture’s theme was “living together”.

Gates said he later got to know Mandela personally after he set up his foundation and they spoke about the HIV/Aids stigma following the death of the late former president’s son Makgatho in 2005 due to an Aids-related illness.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has invested over $9-billion (R131-billion) in Africa since it was founded 14 years ago.

Yesterday, Gates announced that another $5-billion would be spent by the foundation over the next five years. Gates will also speak at the International Aids Conference which starts in Durban today.

He said innovation was needed in the fight against Aids.

According to Gates, in order to improve treatment there could be a pill that can be taken once a month.

“More than 2 000 people who are under 25 are infected with HIV/Aids in sub-Saharan Africa every day,” he said.

Gates said he was optimistic about Africa’s future, and that young people could be the difference between stagnation and steady progress.

“Let’s do everything in our power to achieve the future Mandela dreamed of,” he said.

Dignitaries who attended the lecture include Mandela’s fellow Rivonia Trialist Ahmed Kathrada, former finance minister Trevor Manuel, suspended national police boss Riah Phiyega and IFP leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi.