Lesufi backtracks on recommendation of unapproved Covid medicine

Gauteng MEC for Education, Panyaza Lesufi has retracted and apologised for "unfortunate leaked medical pronouncements."

This after a video of him recommending a traditional Chinese remedy to cure Covid-19 was circulated widely on social media. 

In the video, he said a friend came back from China with so-called "Miracle Capsules" that helped him to fight Covid-19. 

He recommended it "highly" for anyone affecting by Covid, saying "the solution that makes China free is now in our country."

In a statement issued on Wednesday night, Lesufi said: "Following interactions with the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (Sahpra), I now realise that I participated in an unauthorised medical process and for that, I sincerely apologise and hereby, unconditionally so, withdraw all the comments made during the product study."

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He added: "The information was shared to (sic) the public without my permission. 

"I trusted the pharmacist, the custodian of medicines, to guide me correctly but that was not the case. I trusted my pharmacist in this instance who invited me to participate in taking part in the product study and who claimed that the product was submitted for approval."

Lesufi said he would cooperate with Sahpra in "addressing" the issue. 

"I have already started engaging with the Regulatory Compliance unit of Sahpra to ensure that we reverse the incorrect information shared with the public. 

"I have since asked the pharmacist, who knows the approval processes, to also co-operate with Sahpra and avail all relevant information to the regulatory body."

On Wednesday evening, Lesufi's Twitter feed was blank and by Thursday morning it appeared to have been disabled completely.