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Manto denies being sidelined
10/09/2006 08:24 - (SA)
Johannesburg - Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang has dismissed reports that she has been sidelined by cabinet, SABC news reported on Sunday.
This comes after the inter-ministerial committee (IMC) on HIV/Aids was enlarged and Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka appointed as spokesperson.
According to Saturday Star reports, Mlambo-Ngcuka had been brought in to do damage control after numerous ministers voiced concern that the health minister's outbursts were diverting focus from government programmes.
Calls for resignation
Tshabalala-Msimang recently caused controversy at the International Aids Conference with her garlic and beetroot HIV/Aids policies.
This led to several heated calls for her to resign or be fired.
Quoting a source, the Saturday Star said cabinet ministers were not concerned with government policy on HIV/Aids, but on how it was being communicated.
The effect of Tshabalala-Msimang's personality, and the international view that nothing was being done to curb HIV/Aids in South Africa were seen as problems, read the report.
Manto part of cabinet discussions
However the health minister has said she was part of cabinet discussions and could not see how she had been sidelined.
"The establishment of the IMC is not a new thing, we have had an IMC before. It probably wasn't functioning as well as it should have functioned. I have always been part of the IMC so I welcome the establishment and reinforcement of the IMC," Tshabalala Msimang told the SABC.
- SAPA
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