Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang never told her axed deputy Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge that she would “fix” her, her department said on Friday.
“We have confirmed with the minister that no such statement was ever made,” the department said in response to an earlier statement by Madlala-Routledge at a media briefing.
Speaking in Cape Town, Madlala-Routledge said “I can’t say” when asked whether she had been “setup” by Tshabalala-Msimang.
“But I will say that when I spoke in the National Council of Provinces two years ago, and this is the time when I was almost sacked, the minister of health had said to me, and had not looked at me, ‘I’ll fix you’, and maybe she has fixed me.”
In a statement, the department said the former health deputy had not chosen to report such an incident, if true, to structures in government and the ruling African National Congress.
Madlala-Routledge was always invited to regular meetings where policy and department-related issues were discussed.
These included regular meetings involving the minister, deputy minister, department director general, senior managers and provincial ministers.
“Madlala-Routledge was often absent, and in many cases without even tendering an apology. On the few occasions that she was present, she would mostly be attending to her cellphone while the discussions were under way,” said the department.
The statement was released following Madlala-Routledge’s press conference to “correct the wrong information provided to the media with regard to the minister and the Department of Health”.
It said that Madlala-Routledge’s resume, speeches and position remained available on the department’s website and would be updated.
Responding to allegations that Aids programmes would be undermined by the axing, the department and ministry said they remained committed to implementing the National Strategic Plan on HIV/Aids for 2007 to 2011.
The ministry was determined to increase access to prevention, care and treatment and was “pulling all stops” to achieve targets outlined in the plan.
Madlala-Routledge, addressing the press conference broadcast live on radio, said she wanted the facts, “as I see them”, to receive an airing.
She confirmed she was dismissed by President Thabo Mbeki for her unannounced visit to East London’s Frere Hospital and her unauthorised trip to Madrid.
The Presidency on Friday said it had noted Madlala-Routledge’s statements but reiterated that the president did not usually give reasons for appointing and relieving Cabinet members and deputy ministers.
“We will neither be responding to her statements nor giving reasons why she was relieved of her duties,” said spokesperson Mukoni Ratshitanga.
‘Source of inspiration’
Meanwhile, the sacking of Madlala-Routledge, who served “as a source of inspiration” in the fight against HIV/Aids, was regrettable, the South African Medical Association (Sama) said on Friday.
“She was a key player in the past two years in the creation of a more united and better environment vis-a-vis HIV and Aids,” said Sama chairperson Dr Kgosi Letlape.
This had culminated in the launch of the National Strategic Plan for HIV/Aids and Sexually Transmitted Infections for 2007 to 2011 and the re-launch of the South African National Aids Council.
“We hope that the synergies created by her efforts and the environment of cooperation will not be lost with her departure,” Letlape said.
Dr Norman Mabasa, chairperson of a Sama subdivision, the Society of General and Family Practitioners, said the former deputy had shown herself to be a “leader of courage and candour”, particularly around HIV/Aids.
“She has been approachable and willing to work with all role players in the health field. She has earned the respect of the health profession both nationally and internationally and a person of her calibre will be sorely missed.”
The ANC parliamentary caucus said it accepted Mbeki’s decision and affirmed his prerogative, under the Constitution, to appoint and release members of the executive.
The caucus thanked Madlala-Routledge for her role in the country’s health system.
Independent Democrats leader President Patricia de Lille said Madlala-Routledge had “broken the silence” and was an “example to women everywhere”.
The former deputy minister was a “heroine of our new struggle against HIV/Aids” and had unified civil society, government and the nation behind her.
FF Plus leader Pieter Mulder said: “It has long been necessary for President Mbeki to intervene in the Department of Health and fire some people. Unfortunately he did intervene only to fire the wrong minister.
Democratic Alliance health spokesperson Mike Waters said Madlala-Routledge “was fired for speaking truth to power”.
The sudden “extreme stand” over a misunderstanding on a trip could only mean that Mbeki and Tshabalala-Msimang had been “embarrassed” by Madlala-Routledge, who was willing to speak out on government’s failures.
On Friday a group of Treatment Action Campaign members protested over her dismissal outside the Primedia offices where Madlala-Routledge was addressing the media.
Waving placards calling for her reinstatement, the protesters chided Mbeki for removing her.
“Stop being an Aids denialist, fire Manto — not Madlala-Routledge,” read one of the placards.
On Thursday, Ratshitanga said Mbeki did not have to provide reasons for the dismissal.
“Members of Cabinet and deputy ministers serve at the behest of the president,” he said. — Sapa
Timeline
The beginning, 2004: Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge is appointed deputy minister of health, following her stint as deputy minister of defence.
December 2006: Mbeki’s Aids test. Following an interview with British newspaper the Sunday Telegraph, there were reports that she had called on President Thabo Mbeki to take an Aids test. She wins praise for her call from Cosatu, the TAC and other Aids activists, but in a later statement she says: “Although I encourage people to test so that they know their HIV status, I did not, as a matter of fact, call upon the president to conduct a public test as claimed by the reports.”
February 2007: Manto Tshabalala-Msimang falls ill and is admitted to hospital for a liver transplant. Mbeki announces that Transport Minister Jeff Radebe will fill her position. Many see this as a slap in the face for Madlala-Routledge.
June 2007: Manto “snubbed”. After a speedy recovery, Tshabalala-Msimang takes up her post again, but there is immediate controversy. Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka said Tshabalala-Msimang withdrew from the third South African Aids Conference because Madlala-Routledge was given a more prominent position at the conference.
July 2007: Mount Frere Hospital. A public row erupts between Tshabalala-Msimang and Madlala-Routledge over conditions at the Mount Frere Hospital in the Eastern Cape. Madlala-Routledge describes conditions at the hospital as a national emergency during a surprise visit following media reports of a dire shortage of equipment and staff, and management’s inaction on infant deaths. A few days later, Tshabalala-Msimang visits the hospital and says her deputy’s comments were based on untruths.
August 5 2007: Unauthorised trip. It is leaked to the media that Madlala-Routledge takes a consultant and her son on a trip to Spain without obtaining presidential approval, at a total cost of R160 000. Madlala-Routledge denies any wrongdoing.
August 7: Fired. Mbeki asks her to resign on Tuesday, but she refuses. She is sacked a day later.
Watch video footage of Madlala-Routledge’s media briefing