A government assault on the finances of axed deputy minister of health Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge has left her broke, the Sunday Times reported.
She has been forced to accept money from her elderly mother after her salary was docked to reclaim the cost of her controversial trip to Spain.
Now, as the screws are being tightened on her finances, Madlala-Routledge on Friday received a third letter of demand, this time from the Department of Public Works.
The department wants her to pay R26 700 that she has owed on rent for her ministerial houses since 2001, an estimated R371 a month.
Madlala-Routledge was fired by President Thabo Mbeki after she travelled to Spain for an Aids vaccine conference, a trip that he had not authorised. Within days of her firing, the government swung into action, demanding money.
The deputy minister was fired for her inability to work as part of the “collective” and for undertaking the trip against Mbeki’s orders.
The Department of Health wants R312 000 for the “unauthorised” trip to Spain.
Director General of Health Thami Mseleku told Madlala-Routledge in a letter dated August 16 that the salary payable to her for the period August 1 to 9 was R8 478,82, but that it would not be paid before an “outstanding discussion” took place, as she had received an advance of R8 100 for subsistence and travel for the Spain trip.
On Friday, the Star newspaper reported that defence secretary January Masilela confirmed that the Department of Defence also wants Madlala-Routledge to pay back R116 357, an amount dating back to when she was deputy defence minister three years ago.
Various politicians and organisations told the Sunday Times they believe she is being victimised. Democratic Alliance leader Helen Zille said there is an obvious vendetta against Madlala-Routledge and described the bills as selective debt collecting.
Some members of the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC), along with members of the Aids Law Project, have set up a Defend Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge Fund to help fight the dismissal and assist to pay the costs of any action against her.