South Africa is hardly the only country where multivitamins are common. If rationality were the only metric for decision making, I would expect homeopathy to be far less common globally than it is today.
As for Aids denialism, South Africa suffers from a case of cultural antiestablishmentism, particularly in the context of Western medicine. Thankfully our government has stepped up in recent years, and actively promotes HIV/Aids education these days.
Homeopathy is the beloved little black sheep of natural health. I would say half of natural health industry people don't believe in it, know it doesn't work, but they have to go along with it. Otherwise, to admit (as countless studies, and the federal government have done) that homeopathy is completely without merit, would threaten the entire house of cards that natural health is built upon. I remember last year when the FTC announced their enforcement action on homeopathic OTC drugs, there was an unusual silence from the natural health community. Almost a shrug. From the inside it was laughable at the lack of concern for homeopathy's future.
As for Aids denialism, South Africa suffers from a case of cultural antiestablishmentism, particularly in the context of Western medicine. Thankfully our government has stepped up in recent years, and actively promotes HIV/Aids education these days.