Dismissal as Deputy Minister of Health Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge

1 dismissal deputy minister of health

1.1 background of dismissal

1.1.1 clashes health minister on hiv/aids
1.1.2 conflicting reports on frere hospital
1.1.3 unauthorised trip aids conference in spain

dismissal deputy minister of health

on 8 august 2007 on eve of national women s day, madlala-routledge removed office deputy minister of health president thabo mbeki. there speculation specific reason of dismissal @ time, given speculative elements. these included long-term disharmony , disagreement on hiv/aids , other issues between herself , minister of health (dr. manto tshabalala-msimang); findings supporting damning report daily dispatch on conditions in maternity ward @ frere hospital, contradicted tshabalala-msimang , president mbeki. more importantly, had failed receive approval trip aids conference in spain, declined president mbeki after had left. factor in december 2006, had described denial @ highest levels on south africa s policy on aids.

a press release presidency failed cite reason dismissal, apparently because president not obliged give reason sacking minister. madlala-routledge later revealed in press conference president had called meeting asking resign citing unauthorised trip international aids conference in spain had declined. next day officially dismissed. sacking criticized opposition parties , aids organisations. treatment action campaign commented: dreadful error of judgment harm public healthcare.

background of dismissal
clashes health minister on hiv/aids

the dismissal had come after long period of repeated public clashes minister of health, manto tshabalala-msimang on national hiv/aids policy.

conflicting reports on frere hospital

the 2 ministers had released conflicting reports on conditions of maternity ward @ frere hospital, in eastern cape province. madlala-routledge had reported conditions @ maternity ward national disaster . contradicted msimang, reported deputy s comments based on untruths , mortality rate @ hospital had been exaggerated, , infant death rates in line national average .

these events preceded exposé in daily dispatch newspaper on allegedly appalling conditions @ hospital. madlala-routledge first paid visit hospital, had not been scheduled nor communicated hospital, , after report, msimang subsequently paid scheduled , announced visit hospital. finally, writing in weekly column, president thabo mbeki had defended msimang s report on frere hospital , downplayed daily dispatch s investigations inflammatory, dismissing deputy minister s views.

unauthorised trip aids conference in spain

madlala-routledge travelled international aids conference in spain, had received approval necessary departments had been forwarded president approval , thus, presidential approval had not been granted @ time made trip. ultimately, president mbeki declined authorisation of trip, happened when en route spain. upon arrival, , being informed of declination, madlala-routledge cancelled visit conference , travelled home immediately.

in press conference after dismissal, madlala-routledge stated common ministers travel without receiving approval answer presidency because ministers leave @ such short notice.