/ 29 January 2012

Health department recalls ANC centenary condoms

The Free State health department has recalled over a million condoms distributed for the ANC's centenary celebrations over quality concerns.

The Free State health department is recalling over a million condoms delivered for the ANC’s centenary celebrations, over concerns they may be sub-standard, City Press reported on Sunday.

Although they still had to be tested in a laboratory, the department decided to withdraw them, provincial health department spokesperson Jabu Mbalula was quoted as saying.

According to a Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) member the department ordered 8 700 boxes of condoms.

“People would claim that the condoms burst. When we investigated the complaints it turned out the condoms are porous,” Sello Mokhalipi, who works for the TAC and Free State HIV/Aids, told the paper.

The boxes of Choice government condoms, which bore the South African Bureau of Standards stamp, were delivered to guesthouses, hotels, bars, and restaurants ahead of the ANC’s centenary celebrations held from January 6 to January 8.

According to Mbalula they were ordered from the national health department. — Sapa