President Thabo Mbeki’s decision to let Deputy Health Minister Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge go was a ”dreadful error of judgement”, the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) said on Thursday.
”This is a dreadful error of judgement that will harm public healthcare and especially the response to the HIV epidemic,” the TAC said in a statement.
The TAC was reacting to Mbeki’s dismissal of Madlala-Routledge, which took immediate effect on Wednesday.
”It indicates that the president still remains opposed to the science of HIV and to appropriately responding to the [pandemic].”
The dismissal took place after she went to Spain to attend an Aids conference, accompanied by her son and a consultant from her office, at a cost of R160 000 — without Mbeki’s permission.
The TAC described this incident as ”trivial”, saying it was leaked to the media in a ”distorted manner” in order to discredit the deputy minister.
”This raises the concern that the deputy minister’s trip to Spain was refused in order to discredit her and that this is an orchestrated attempt to justify dismissing her,” the TAC said.
”This is the second time President Mbeki has attempted to dismiss her and resorted to unfounded allegations of misconduct to justify it.”
The organisation lauded Madlala-Routledge who, together with Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, led the development of the HIV/Aids National Strategic Plan.
”She has unequivocally called for people to get tested and, if necessary, treated with antiretrovirals treatment. She has also helped mend the relationship between civil society organisations like the TAC and the Aids Law Project with the government,” it said.
”She has begun rebuilding relationships between the Department of Health and the country’s HIV clinicians and scientists.”
The TAC called on the president to revoke his decision and to unequivocally voice his support for the deputy health minister.
”This is the only sensible course of action that he could take if he is truly concerned about the health of millions of poor people in South Africa,” it said.
”Women’s Day, August 9 2007, will be remembered as the day when a heroic woman took a principled stand in defence of life, dignity and health. We salute the Deputy Minister Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge.”
Also reacting to the deputy minister’s dismissal, Independent Democrats leader Patricia De Lille said: ”Coming just hours before the dawn of our 13th Women’s Day since freedom, this is an insult to every single South African woman who has the courage to stand up for the truth.”
She believed Madlala-Routledge was probably set up and was confident that ”the truth will prevail”.
”I know a woman of integrity when I see one,” De Lille said.
”Ms Madlala-Routledge brought hard work, a love for freedom of expression and the ability to admit mistakes to the African National Congress government and she has been rewarded in such an outrageous way that a dark cloud will hang over our country [on Thursday].
”The president has finally found the courage to fire someone, but he has fired the wrong person and this will have a direct and deadly impact on the lives of our millions of poor.”
De Lille said she knew that Madlala-Routledge’s side of the story ”will be the truth”.
”… I am looking forward to the moment when, in line with her faithfulness to the truth, she shares her story with South Africa,” she said.
‘We are not going to wade in’
Mbeki dismissed Madlala-Routledge on Wednesday with immediate effect.
”The Presidency wishes to inform the nation that acting in terms of the provisions of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, President Thabo Mbeki has, today [Wednesday] relieved the Deputy Minister of Health, Ms Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge, of her duties with effect,” it said in a statement.
”President Mbeki thanked Ms Madlala-Routledge for her participation in government over the years. An appointment to the position of deputy minister of health will be made in due course.”
Before her dismissal, Madlala-Routledge refused to comment on the matter.
”As has been reported, the matter has been referred to the Presidency. We are not going to wade in and fuel the speculation,” her spokesperson, Sukhthi Naidoo, said on Wednesday.
Parliament’s Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) has said it intends ensuring Madlala-Routledge repays the public funds used for the trip.
It has been reported that Madlala-Routledge indeed sought Mbeki’s approval of the trip, but that permission was denied only once she was already there because of a mix-up over dates.
The Democratic Alliance, meanwhile, said that if Madlala-Routledge was to be probed, then Scopa should also look into allegations of irregular spending by Deputy Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba.
”I will be raising this issue at the first available opportunity when Scopa reconvenes next week,” said DA spokesperson Eddie Trent on Wednesday.
Gigaba was accused of using the home affairs expense account to pay for flights, travel expenses and flowers for people not employed by the department. — Sapa