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Paper battles SA health minister | Paper battles SA health minister |
(30 minutes later) | |
A South African newspaper is to challenge a court order stopping it from reporting any further about the health minister's medical past. | A South African newspaper is to challenge a court order stopping it from reporting any further about the health minister's medical past. |
The Sunday Times alleged that Manto Tshabalala-Msimang drank alcohol whilst in a Cape Town private clinic in 2005. | The Sunday Times alleged that Manto Tshabalala-Msimang drank alcohol whilst in a Cape Town private clinic in 2005. |
Johannesburg's High Court then ordered the paper to return all copies of the minister's medical records it obtained. | |
The clinic that carried out her liver transplant earlier this year denies allegations that she jumped queues. | |
The case has been described by the media as a test for South Africa's freedom of expression. | The case has been described by the media as a test for South Africa's freedom of expression. |
Jovial Rantao of South Africa's National Editor's Forum (Sanef), told the BBC's Network Africa that Sanef respects an individual's right to privacy except when that right conflicts with public interest. | Jovial Rantao of South Africa's National Editor's Forum (Sanef), told the BBC's Network Africa that Sanef respects an individual's right to privacy except when that right conflicts with public interest. |
"In this particular instance Sanef believes that the public interest should take precedence," he said. | "In this particular instance Sanef believes that the public interest should take precedence," he said. |
No confidence | No confidence |
The newspaper reported that Dr Tshabalala-Msimang drank alcohol while at the Medi Clinic health centre in Cape Town for a shoulder operation in 2005. | The newspaper reported that Dr Tshabalala-Msimang drank alcohol while at the Medi Clinic health centre in Cape Town for a shoulder operation in 2005. |
Meanwhile, the opposition party, Democratic Alliance (DA), proposed a motion of no confidence in the health minister and is calling for her dismissal. | Meanwhile, the opposition party, Democratic Alliance (DA), proposed a motion of no confidence in the health minister and is calling for her dismissal. |
The party is also accusing the Donald Gordon Medical Centre of giving Dr Tshabalala-Msimang special treatment for a liver transplant operation she underwent this year. | The party is also accusing the Donald Gordon Medical Centre of giving Dr Tshabalala-Msimang special treatment for a liver transplant operation she underwent this year. |
It is believed to be an unusual procedure for a person of her age. | It is believed to be an unusual procedure for a person of her age. |
But Sue Tager, a spokesperson for the medical centre, told the BBC that giving her special treatment would be impossible. | But Sue Tager, a spokesperson for the medical centre, told the BBC that giving her special treatment would be impossible. |
"It would involve the falsifying of records and all sorts of completely bizarre things, and our process ensures that that sort of thing doesn't happen," she said. | "It would involve the falsifying of records and all sorts of completely bizarre things, and our process ensures that that sort of thing doesn't happen," she said. |
South Africa's ruling African National Congress has supported Dr Tshabalala-Msimang. | South Africa's ruling African National Congress has supported Dr Tshabalala-Msimang. |
ANC spokesman Moloto Mothapo said that if Sanef's precedence is upheld, that means "individuals can just be stripped of their rights to dignity and respect". | ANC spokesman Moloto Mothapo said that if Sanef's precedence is upheld, that means "individuals can just be stripped of their rights to dignity and respect". |
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