GOLD was rumoured to cure diseases since time immemorial. Recently South African scientists claimed that the yellow metal could be a cure for cancer, HIV/Aids, and malaria. According to the Mail & Guardian, scientists are planning to develop gold-based drugs to combat various illnesses.%%According to Judy Caddy, head of medical research at the South Africa’s mining research company Mintek’s Project AuTEK, in the beginning of the year a series of gold-based drugs were identified that are very active in the fight against cancer. The drugs tried out on cancer also showed promising results in treating malaria and HIV. She however added that it would be 20 years for drugs to move from initial tests to the market.%%A joint venture between Mintek and the country’s largest mining giants, AngloGold Ashanti, Goldfields and Harmony, Project AuTEK looks at the research and development of novel industrial applications for gold.