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S Africa Aids sacking condemned S Africa Aids sacking condemned
(20 minutes 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).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.
The BBC's Peter Biles says Ms Madlala-Routledge sprang to prominence last year when Dr Tshabalala-Msimang was off work for several months while undergoing a liver transplant.
Ms Madlala-Routledge adopted a more open approach to the HIV-Aids crisis, and publicly took a blood test to check her own HIV status.