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| S Africa Aids sacking condemned | S Africa Aids sacking condemned |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Aids activists and opposition parties have criticised the sacking of South Africa's deputy health minister, after she went to a Spanish Aids conference. | Aids activists and opposition parties have criticised the sacking of South Africa's deputy health minister, after she went to a Spanish Aids conference. |
| "This is a dreadful error of judgement that will harm public healthcare," said the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC). | "This is a dreadful error of judgement that will harm public healthcare," said the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC). |
| It is believed that President Thabo Mbeki did not authorise Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge's trip to Spain. | It is believed that President Thabo Mbeki did not authorise Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge's trip to Spain. |
| She has previously clashed with her boss, the controversial Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang. | She has previously clashed with her boss, the controversial Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang. |
| Dr Tshabalala-Msimang is known as Dr Beetroot after urging those with HIV to eat beetroot and garlic, while the government has been condemned for not providing enough anti-retroviral drugs. | Dr Tshabalala-Msimang is known as Dr Beetroot after urging those with HIV to eat beetroot and garlic, while the government has been condemned for not providing enough anti-retroviral drugs. |
| Some 5.5m South Africans are HIV-positive - more than in any other country. | Some 5.5m South Africans are HIV-positive - more than in any other country. |
| 'Dark cloud' | 'Dark cloud' |
| TAC said the sacking of Ms Madlala-Routledge would further harm South Africa's fight against Aids. | TAC said the sacking of Ms Madlala-Routledge would further harm South Africa's fight against Aids. |
| "It indicates that the president still remains opposed to the science of HIV and to appropriately responding to the [pandemic]," a TAC statement said. | "It indicates that the president still remains opposed to the science of HIV and to appropriately responding to the [pandemic]," a TAC statement said. |
| Mr Mbeki's statement on the sacking did not give a reason. | Mr Mbeki's statement on the sacking did not give a reason. |
| Ms Madlala-Routledge's son, a consultant, accompanied her to Spain, at a total cost to the tax-payer of 160,000 rand ($22,850). | |
| Opposition parties have previously criticised government officials for taking too many foreign trips but they have also backed Ms Madlala-Routledge. | Opposition parties have previously criticised government officials for taking too many foreign trips but they have also backed Ms Madlala-Routledge. |
| "Ms Madlala-Routledge brought hard work, a love for freedom of expression and the ability to admit mistakes to the ANC government and she has been rewarded in such an outrageous way that a dark cloud will hang over our country tomorrow," said Independent Democrats leader Patricia De Lille. | "Ms Madlala-Routledge brought hard work, a love for freedom of expression and the ability to admit mistakes to the ANC government and she has been rewarded in such an outrageous way that a dark cloud will hang over our country tomorrow," said Independent Democrats leader Patricia De Lille. |
| The main opposition Democratic Alliance said if Ms Madlala-Routledge was to be punished, so should other officials. | The main opposition Democratic Alliance said if Ms Madlala-Routledge was to be punished, so should other officials. |