Reuters AlertNet Lite - Mbeki attacks critics over deputy minister sacking

Reuters AlertNet Full site

NEWSDESK

Mbeki attacks critics over deputy minister sacking

17 Aug 2007 12:20:28 GMT
Source: Reuters

JOHANNESBURG, Aug 17 (Reuters) - South African President Thabo Mbeki, battling to maintain leadership of the ruling ANC party, accused supporters of his sacked deputy health minister on Friday of trying to undermine the party.

Mbeki sacked the respected Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge last week for insubordination, sparking an outcry from AIDS activists who backed her policies and criticism by some media.

In a strongly worded letter posted on the African National Congress Web site, Mbeki denounced "an ill-founded and ill-intentioned hue and cry", lambasting the media for "shameless lies" and a trade union for criticising the dismissal.

"We, and the overwhelming majority of our people ... have been painfully alerted to the fact that not everybody in our country and abroad, is happy that the ANC enjoys the confidence of the masses of our people," Mbeki wrote.

"Equally, others are unhappy that, contrary to the predictions of the doomsayers about African countries, we have managed the transition from white minority rule to non-racial, democratic rule," he said.

Opponents of Mbeki accuse him of purging opponents as he tries to hold on to political power and of playing the race card to counter negative press.

Mbeki is barred from serving again as president after his term expires in 2009. But he can contest the ANC leadership, something he has said he is willing to do.

However Mbeki has watched support slip away from crucial political allies -- unions and the South African Communist party (SACP), who are increasingly critical of his pro-business policies.

These pressures, political analysts say, forced Mbeki to sack Madlala-Routledge, who had won widespread praise for her direct and proactive approach to tackling AIDS.

Madlala-Routledge, a rising star in the South African Communist Party, had publicly criticised the health minister, a close Mbeki ally who horrified AIDS activists by favouring garlic and beetroot over drugs in the fight against AIDS.

Aside from the political fallout, Madlala-Routledge's dismissal raised fresh concerns over Mbeki's commitment to fighting AIDS, which infects an estimated 12 percent of South Africa's 47 million people.

AlertNet news is provided by

Email this article Send comments

Countries

Small country map
© 2004 Europa Technologies Ltd.

Reset map

• South Africa profile
· View map

MORE >>

NGO latest

• London school mixes business with charity
WER - UK

• Severe Poverty in the UK
Save the Children - International Alliance

• Participating in the broader health agenda
International HIV/AIDS Alliance - UK

MORE >>

Latest news

• Mbeki attacks critics over deputy minister sacking

• Southern Africa launches peacekeeping brigade

• Southern Africa launches peacekeeping brigade

• Reuters quote of the day August 17

• SOUTH AFRICA: A cold reception for Zimbabwean migrants

MORE >>

Last updated:Fri Aug 17 12:21:06 2007