The Presidency has dismissed weekend newspaper allegations concerning controversial Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, saying they do not warrant President Thabo Mbeki taking action against her.
”The Presidency notes that the latest allegations levelled against the minister of health appear to be consistent with attempts by some in the media and elsewhere to demean the person of the minister,” it said in a statement on Monday.
Earlier, it was reported Tshabalala-Msimang was to seek legal advice about a Sunday Times report alleging she went on a ”hospital booze binge” while in hospital for shoulder surgery two years ago.
Such allegations, the Presidency said, had the effect of shifting focus from the government programme to improve the public health system as a whole.
”Furthermore, they seem to bear on recent decisions taken by the president regarding the leadership of the Ministry of Health and to project these in caricature of derogation,” it said.
Last week, Mbeki fired deputy health minister Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge.
The allegations published in the weekend press did not warrant the president taking action against the minister of health.
”However, anyone who may have evidence which demonstrates that any minister or deputy minister has acted in dereliction of duty is welcome to forward such evidence to the Presidency,” the Presidency said.
On Monday morning, the minister reportedly rejected as ”garbage” the allegations against her, saying the Sunday Times had ”sunk to the very low level of journalism”.
Tshabalala-Msimang was speaking after opening a conference in Kempton Park.
She said: ”I read the paper and I was shocked when I saw the article. It is full of untruths.”
The minister confirmed she was seeking legal advice to ”take the correct action against the newspaper”. — Sapa