The star News Online
Monday, December 11, 2006
She has fiercely criticised the president and the health minister over their handling of HIV/Aids, yet the government is refusing to provide a public response to Deputy Health Minister Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge's comments.
She spoke out against President Thabo Mbeki and Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang during an interview with a British newspaper last week, saying they had to take some of the responsibility for the confusion among South Africans on the proper way to treat HIV/Aids.
Yesterday, government spokesperson Themba Maseko offered only a "no comment at this stage", while repeated attempts to get hold of the presidential spokesperson, as well as spokespersons in the office of the minister and her deputy, were unsuccessful.
While applauding the deputy minister, Treatment Action Campaign general secretary Sipho Mthathi emphasised that Madlala-Routledge had not said anything new, but had just repeated what organisations and individuals working in the field of HIV/Aids had been stressing for a long time.
Asked whether they would be watching to see if she would be disciplined for her statements, Mthathi said there was no reason for her to be fired for "speaking the truth".
"As far as we're concerned, it's only a government that is paranoid and insecure that sees it as an attack when people speak the truth."
Mthathi said the deputy minister's statement was consistent with the declaration made on World Aids Day, which gave "rebirth" to a new partnership between the government and all those concerned with fighting HIV/Aids.
In a frank and hard-hitting interview, Madlala-Routledge said it was "sad and tragic" that people were told they had a choice in treatment and that traditional medicines were promoted as an alternative treatment, when this could not be backed up by science.
She said Mbeki's appointment of Professor Herbert Vilakazi as chairperson of a "task team" on traditional medicine was also unacceptable, especially as Vilakazi was marketing an untested product, Ubhejane, as a cure.
She also for the first time confirmed she had been gagged and had even been told her job could be at risk for not toeing the minister's line.
However, Mthathi yesterday said it was important that public officials spoke out "for what is right" and that a new message of hope was needed.
"We admire her courage. She has been prepared to stick |her neck out … unlike other officials."
Madlala-Routledge became more vocal after Tshabalala-Msimang became ill a few months ago. The minister's absence has been described by various organisations as a boon for the TAC and its relationship with the government.