Manto: DA 'not worth comment'
2003-07-01 20:49
Johannesburg - The re-launch of the Democratic Alliance's "sinister campaign" against Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang "is not worthy of any detailed response", the minister's office said on Tuesday.
The Health Department was responding to reports that the DA had renewed its campaign to have Tshabalala-Msimang removed from office.
"The majority of South Africans who voted for this government will not be misled by plots and, particularly, this character assassination attempt, orchestrated by a desperate group trying to launch its doomed election campaign," the minister's spokesperson Sibani Mngadi said in a statement.
He said Tshabalala-Msimang was elected by the progressive structures of the African National Congress to be on the party's election list.
"This list and the health policies of this organisation, were endorsed by the vast majority of South Africans through a legitimate general election.
"Like most other members of the Cabinet, Minister Tshabalala-Msimang was appointed by the president to lead the health portfolio from this list of elected representatives."
He said it was revealing that the DA chose to launch its campaign against a legitimate Minister using the internet.
Cheap trick
"This elite group should know that the vast majority of South Africans do not have access to computers, let alone the internet.
"The people of South Africa will not be fooled by this cheap DA trick," he said.
Meanwhile the ANC Youth League said it was not surprised by yet another "ultra-racist move by the DA to undermine the African majority in this country".
"Today's rehashed DA campaign came with a very inconsistent and racially motivated 35-page so-called survey to try and convince our people to vote against our competent minister."
"The fact that this so-called survey is being conducted through the internet is a clear indication that it is only meant for the white privileged few," ANCYL spokesperson Khulekani Ntshangase said.
The league questioned the motive for DA's survey.
"Clearly, the motive is to discredit the effort of our government by spreading unfounded rumours.
"The progressive ANC-led government will continue to create a better health care for all citizens of this country whether the DA likes it or not."
Mudslinging
Ntshangase said no amount of lies and mudslinging would deter the people from being loyal to their own organisation and government.
"We will not be apologetic to focus on black people of this country because they continue to be on the banks of the economy because of apartheid which was reported as glossy by Tony Leon when he was still a journalists whilst on the payroll of the SADF."
Launching what it termed "the authoritative compilation of the minister's failures", DA health spokesman Mike Waters said Tshabalala-Msimang's transgressions demonstrated "a callous disregard" for the health and well-being of South Africans.
"She cannot remain as health minister while 600 people die from Aids every day," Waters said.
The 31-page document, available on www.firemanto.co.za, records incidents from her appointment in 1999 until this year, where she denies the link between HIV and Aids, and suggests that the pandemic was a test of "morality" from God.
Waters said the document, compiled from media reports, demonstrated that Tshabalala-Msimang had made "every possible error" in dealing with the pandemic.
South Africans can vote on the website as to whether they believe she should be fired or not.
By noon on Tuesday 229 people had visited the site and 96.47 percent had voted in favour of her being fired.
- SAPA