Women’s rights? Oh sure …
Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge’s dismissal says much about whether women’s rights really are a priority in South Africa.
She has a long history as a women’s activist, serving on the parliamentary committee on the status of women and chairing the multiparty Parliamentary Women’s Group and the ANC Parliamentary Women’s Caucus. She has been integral to many civil society groupings, was a full-time organiser for the Natal Organisation of Women and served on the executive of the Women’s National Coalition.
Madlala-Routledge has not been afraid to speak out on critical gender issues, such as HIV/Aids. She has been vocal in calling for people to get tested and to access antiretroviral treatment. She helped bridge the vast gap between civil society organisations such as the Treatment Action Campaign and the government.
Her deteriorating relationship with Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang and her comments on conditions at Frere Hospital are probably the real reason for her dismissal.
Yet her comments on unacceptable infant mortality levels have been supported by the superintendent of the East London Hospital Complex, Nokuzola Ntshona, who has told Parliament’s health committee that about 400 newborn babies die each month at the Frere and Cecilia Makiwane hospitals because of poor infection control, and that this indeed constitutes an emergency.
The irony of Madlala-Routledge’s dismissal on the eve of Women’s Day is that South Africa has ratified the Beijing Platform for Action, which commits the country to providing more accessible, affordable, high-quality primary healthcare, and achieving ”internationally approved goals for the reduction of infant and child mortality”.
How far have we come in promoting women’s rights when a senior woman politician is fired for speaking out on a critical gender issue to which the state has committed its support? When she swiftly takes up the cause of poor women whose children are dying in an under-resourced hospital? Was this ”irresponsible”? — Joy Watson
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Madlala-Routledge had been walking a tightrope for a long time, and her dismissal came as no surprise — she had been undermining her employer in public. Tell me of a company that would allow a senior manager to criticise it publicly.
If she was unhappy with the government’s direction on health, she should have done the honourable thing and resigned. Instead, she rode the ”populist” wave. Like Jacob Zuma, she garnered support by playing with the emotions of the most vulnerable South Africans, the HIV-positive.
Remember, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela was also fired for taking an unauthorised trip while a deputy minister.
And remember that Madlala-Routledge used to be deputy defence minister. If she really cared about the people and was on the side of justice, fairness and morality, why didn’t she speak out against the arms deal? — Sindiso Malaku, Pretoria
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In March, Madlala-Routledge told journalists that in Parliament she had called for a national consensus on health issues because ”in the face of the [Aids] pandemic, health should be above party-political differences and individual personalities”.
She placed the right to life of babies at Frere Hospital above her concern for her own position. She risked her job by declaring conditions there a national emergency.
And now the deputy minister who refused to toe the party line and remain silent on so many unnecessary deaths has been dismissed.
The message the government is sending out to women is clear: ”Don’t tell us how you are struggling to feed your children, or how you have been raped and beaten, or how your babies are dying. A good woman knows she must hold her tongue or be punished.” — Kylie Thomas, HIV/Aids and the Media Project, Wits school of journalism
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Was Madlala-Routledge telling the truth about her trip to Spain, or was she craftily using public opinion to escape responsibility by playing the victim?
Her defence that ”I did not know” is hardly helpful. She has been a minister and manager for more than 10 years and should know about government procedures.
She was not fired for her assessment of Frere Hospital. In fact, there is no hint that the president even raised the issue with her after her visit.
She did, however, spend R160 000 of taxpayers’ money in a matter of days on an unauthorised trip.
There may have been policy differences between her, the president and the rest of the Cabinet, but such differences are normal.
When you can no longer work out the differences in your team, the right thing to do is to resign, not break the rules. — Wongaletu Vanda
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What does the future hold for the woman who ”spoke truth to power”?
She is shrewd enough to realise that Thabo Mbeki and his ilk will not run the ANC forever. The winds of change will soon blow through the cracking monolith of the ruling party.
Should a moderate come to the fore, she will more than likely find herself in the Cabinet again — as health minister. — Alex Matthews, Cape Town
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Only in politics is insubordination labelled political conspiracy. In the world outside, people get fired for insubordination no matter how good their intentions. Why? Because being rebellious defeats the organisation’s vision.
At the end of the day, ordinary people are being entangled in political spats because their emotions are being toyed with. We should be realistic in our attitude towards politicians. — Phumla Khanyile, Tshwane
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As an American, Mbeki’s stubborn support of Tshabalala-Msimang is all too familiar.
The United States Attorney General, Alberto Gonzales, made torture official government policy and thinks the Geneva Convention is irrelevant. Even key Republicans in Congress have called him a liar and demanded his removal. Yet George W Bush adamantly defends him. It’s the same style of stubborn leadership as Mbeki’s. In both cases, innocent people are sacrificed to the arrogance of power. — Stephen Karakashian, Cape Town
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The brouhaha over Madlala-Routledge’s dismissal is an unwarranted attack on Mbeki for exercising his constitutionally enshrined powers.
What is glaringly lacking is a justification for the ”unauthorised trip” to Spain. There have been careless comparisons of this case with others, but it is not enough to cry similarity. Each case must be dealt with on its own merits. — Tembile Yako, Athlone, Cape Town
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What is striking is the deafening silence of Madlala-Routledge’s Cabinet colleagues.
For how many years have they turned their collective heads away from the unfolding tragedy of HIV/Aids? How many can walk with pride in the knowledge that they took a principled position on this issue while knowing it might cost them their jobs? How many took a stand against the madness of denialism? — Paula Leyden
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If indeed the trip was taken without approval, I say well done to the president.
It is vital for civil servants and the public in general to understand the importance of complying with laws designed to ensure proper governance and accountability of state assets. And the tone should be set at the top. — Sizwe Nyenyiso
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I hope Madlala-Routledge’s dismissal presages a new trend in accountability in government. — Philip Machanick, Taringa, Australia
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Problem? What problem?
As I was walking down the stair
I met a man who wasn’t there.
He wasn’t there again today,
Oh, how I wish he’d go away.
You can’t expect someone to care
For problems that they say aren’t there.
Your critics you can well rebut
By keeping both eyes tightly shut.
While crooks and killers have their day,
Our top cop looks the other way.
”I’ve not been raped, so why the fuss?
The problem can’t be serious.”
Our leader worries not at all
Behind his ninety-million wall.
Maybe it was built to scare
The criminals who are not there?
Recall before the mem’ry fades,
That Thabo knew no one with Aids,
And Manto said, ”If you feel sick,
Some fresh beetroot will do the trick.”
Our leaders save themselves much trial
By issuing a flat denial.
The expectations are unfair
When problems simply are not there.
They are not there again today
Oh, how they wish they’d go away!
— Jeremy Hele (with apologies to Hillaire Belloc)
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Committed recruits
I get Tom Eaton’s point (”The thick blue line”, August 10). When I was an SAPS member in 1993, we looked down on private security employees as ”cardboard policemen”.
Then I was medically boarded and had to get a job in that industry, where I spent 13 years.
I saw the value of these people. They work long hours and perform mundane tasks, but are dedicated and never complain — despite being paid a pittance and working on contract.
While I was policeman, I rarely witnessed such commitment. The SAPS should exploit the industry if it is looking for committed and disciplined recruits. — Gregory Arnold
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Why no Denel in Darfur?
According to a report on News24, a United Nations force will take over from the African Union force in Darfur. The report states that the force is to be made up of mostly African soldiers.
While African soldiers are expected to put their lives at risk, the UN states that the artillery and attack helicopters will most likely be sourced from countries in the West.
Denel is struggling to turn a profit, while it and Armscor are among the best manufacturers in the world of desert armoured attack vehicles. So why is European and US equipment being considered for an African peace mission?
South African armoured vehicles and landmine detection technology has been successfully used in Iraq, Afghanistan and Africa, while the Rooivalk attack helicopter (above) is on a par with any similar aircraft in the world.
If the UN is serious about building Africa’s ability to lead peace missions on the continent, African technology should be considered first.
South Africa should lead the way by insisting all equipment needed for any peacekeeping missions on the continent should first be sourced in Africa before a wider net is cast.
So, while helping to bring peace to our continent, we could stimulate manufacturing industries in Africa and fulfil the slogan ”an African solution to Africa’s problems”. — Lester September, Lansdowne, Cape Town
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In brief
Fiona Nicholson reports (”SAPS fuelled rape rhetoric”, August 10) that a senior policeman told peers and subordinates in a recent forum that the police could not be expected to open a case ”for every woman who claims she has been raped, because we must first make sure she isn’t lying”. Yet the SAPS website reassures us that ”the police official will take your statement”! — F Jones
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I’ve just returned from a trip to Jordan, where a friend and I were refused entry to Israel as ”security risks” when we tried to vist the al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem. It would be appreciated if the Israelis did some research, as we are ordinary people with no political ties. The trip cost me a small fortune and being rejected was most disheartening. — Mohammed Laher
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Buying the Mail & Guardian while travelling in South Africa has been a great and pleasing surprise for me. As a journalist who works in the Latin American and Spanish markets, I was impressed by the depth and quality of analysis and the clarity of the texts. — Igor Galo Anza, Sociedad Interamericana de Periodistas
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Where else do TV guests automatically gush that South Africa is the most fantastic country in the world, and has the most wonderful and amazingly talented people, and the most amazing opportunities for everybody? Are they handed a script by Comrade Snuki? Our fragile democracy needs the M&G more than ever. — Michael Brett, Hartebeeshoek