Dismissal As Deputy Minister of Health
On 8 August 2007 on the eve of National Women's Day, Madlala-Routledge was removed by President Thabo Mbeki as Deputy Minister of Health. There was some speculation as to the specific reason of her dismissal at the time, given certain speculative elements:
- The long-term disharmony and disagreement on HIV/AIDS and other issues between herself and the Minister of Health (Dr. Manto Tshabalala-Msimang);
- Her findings supporting a damning report by the Daily Dispatch on the conditions of the maternity ward at Frere Hospital, which were contradicted by Tshabalala-Msimang and president Mbeki;
- A trip she had made to an AIDS conference in Spain, which was referred to president Mbeki for pre-approval, which was declined after she had left.
- In December 2006, eight months prior to her retrenchment, she described "denial at the very highest levels" over AIDS.
However a press release by the presidency didn't cite any reason for her dismissal. According to the presidency, the president is not obliged to give a reason for sacking a minister; however, it was later revealed in a press conference by Madlala-Routledge that the president had called a meeting asking for her to resign citing the unauthorised trip to an international AIDS conference in Spain. Madlala-Routledge declined to resign and the next day she was officially dismissed.
Read more about this topic: Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge
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