The African National Congress (ANC) has accused the Treatment Action Campaign of ”bully boy tactics” after its disruption of a speech by Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang.
ANC Western Cape representative on health Cameron Dugmore said in a statement on Wednesday that the disruption at a health conference on Tuesday had nothing to do with civil disobedience.
Instead, it was a bid to prevent an open discussion about constraints facing government in regard to treatment. TAC confronted the minister as part of a week-long civil disobedience campaign to pressurise the government into a public sector antiretroviral treatment programme.
”The TAC bully boy tactics yesterday confirm the fundamental weakness of their campaign,” said Dugmore.
”As a single issue campaign, often ignoring the comprehensive approach to fighting HIV/Aids , they have chosen to attack and vilify certain individuals they disagree with and demonise others.”
He said TAC knew the ANC accepted that antiretrovirals ”have a role to play”. His reaction follows government condemnation on Tuesday of the TAC action as counter-productive.
”The TAC’s campaign is neither necessary nor helpful,” government representative Joel Netshitenzhe said in a statement. – Sapa