A look at some controversial comments on HIV by South Africa's two biggest political figures

The two most prominent figures in South Africa's dominant African National Congress party — President Thabo Mbeki and Jacob Zuma, who defeated Mbeki in a party leadership vote Tuesday — have raised eyebrows with comments and actions related to AIDS, a disease that kills about 900 South Africans a day.

Here's a quick look at some of what they've said and done:

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THABO MBEKI

Soon after becoming president in 1999, Mbeki caused a stir in the international health community when he began publicly questioning the link between HIV and AIDS, the effectiveness of AIDS tests and the safety of AIDS drugs.

In the ensuing years, he increasingly shied away from such comments. But he's offered unflagging support for Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, who's been condemned at home and abroad for indicating she doesn't trust antiretroviral medicines and for espousing a diet heavy on garlic, beetroot, lemon and olive oil as more effective in treating HIV/AIDS.

Mbeki was also widely criticized in August after he fired Deputy Health Minister Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge, who had won praise for revitalizing the country's anti-AIDS campaign. The president said Madlala-Routledge was incapable of working as part of a team; critics said Mbeki chose the wrong health official to dismiss.

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JACOB ZUMA

Last year, Zuma was acquitted of raping a family friend. During the trial, he testified that he had unprotected, consensual sex with the HIV-positive woman, which he said presented little risk of transmission of the virus that causes AIDS.

Also at the trial, Zuma said he took a shower after having sex with the woman in the belief that it would protect him from HIV.

Zuma has, however, called for AIDS — and crime, another severe social problem in the country — to be "treated as national emergencies."