Organ trafficking shocks Manto
2003-12-07 13:20
Johannesburg - Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang said on Sunday she was "deeply shocked" at the news that South Africans were involved in the trafficking of human organs.
"I am deeply shocked by the revelations of alleged organ trafficking taking place in our country. As the department, we do not believe that an individual's poverty status should mean that they are hood-winked by those with money to part with their organs just to make ends meet.
"We totally abhor this inhumane practice," Tshabalala-Msimang said.
Roderick Frank Kimberley, 58, was granted R60 000 bail by a Durban magistrate on Friday after his arrest on suspicion of involvement in an international human organ trafficking network.
Police believe Kimberley, a South African citizen, is an important member of the syndicate.
Two other men allegedly linked to the syndicate were arrested in Durban on Tuesday, and appeared in the city's magistrate's court.
Israeli Agania Robel, 42, and 49-year-old Meir Shushan, a South African of Israeli descent, were freed on bail of R5 000 and R15 000 respectively.
Tshabalala-Msimang reminded South Africans that trafficking in human tissue, or charging money in any way to acquire or supply human tissue, from a dead or living person was, illegal according to the Human Tissue Act.
She praised the police members who had arrested the alleged syndicate members and vowed to treat "in the same way as any other criminal" any health professionals proved to be involved.
"The department of health is serious in preventing (sic) such illegal activities and included very strict legal prescriptions in the new Health Bill to stop organ trafficking," she said.
The department was in the process of finalising an Organ Transplant Policy that would prevent organ or tissue trafficking or any irregularity related to human tissue or organ harvesting, acquiring, supply and transportation.
"In my capacity as the Minister of Health, I intend to ask for a detailed report from the Netcare Group to inform me about what is happening and what they are doing regarding this episode," she said.
- SAPA