Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge
Encyclopedia
Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge (born 29 June 1952) is a South Africa
n politician who was South Africa's Deputy Minister of Defence from 1999 to April 2004 and Deputy Minister of Health
from April 2004 to August 2007. President Thabo Mbeki
dismissed her from the Cabinet on August 8, 2007, after which she was automatically reduced to her role as a member of parliament (MP) representing the African National Congress
. On 25 September 2008, she became Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly
, serving in that capacity until resigning from Parliament in early May 2009. She has been a member of the South African Communist Party
since 1984.
Madlala-Routledge is well known for helping combat AIDS
in South Africa, and is considered by many to have resisted government denial of the severity of the epidemic. She was also an opponent of the use of alternative medicine
treatments of HIV
in place of scientifically tested methods.
.
A Quaker and former ANC and SA Communist Party underground operative in KwaZulu Natal, she was one of the four-strong SACP delegation to the Convention for a Democratic SA that negotiated the transition from apartheid.
She also served with Cyril Ramaphosa
on the working group that drew up the constitutional framework.
, Madlala-Routledge was removed by President Thabo Mbeki
as Deputy Minister of Health. There was some speculation as to the specific reason of her dismissal at the time, given certain speculative elements:
However a press release by the presidency didn't cite any reason for her dismissal. According to the presidency, the president is not obliged to give a reason for sacking a minister; however, it was later revealed in a press conference by Madlala-Routledge that the president had called a meeting asking for her to resign citing the unauthorised trip to an international AIDS conference in Spain
. Madlala-Routledge declined to resign and the next day she was officially dismissed.
province. Madlala-Routledge had reported that conditions at the maternity ward were a 'national disaster'. This was contradicted by Msimang, who reported that her deputy's comments were based on 'untruths', that the mortality rate at the hospital had been exaggerated, and that the infant death rates were 'in line with the national average'.
These events were preceded by an exposé in the Daily Dispatch newspaper over the allegedly appalling conditions at the hospital. Madlala-Routledge first paid a visit to the hospital, which had not been scheduled nor communicated to the hospital, and after her report, Msimang subsequently paid a scheduled and announced visit to the hospital. Finally, writing in his weekly column, president Thabo Mbeki had defended Msimang's report on Frere Hospital and downplayed the Daily Dispatchs investigations as inflammatory, effectively dismissing the deputy minister's views.
In a press conference after her dismissal, Madlala-Routledge stated that it is common for ministers to travel without receiving an approval answer from the presidency because ministers often leave at such short notice.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n politician who was South Africa's Deputy Minister of Defence from 1999 to April 2004 and Deputy Minister of Health
South African Department of Health
The Department of Health is the executive department of the South African government which is assigned to health matters....
from April 2004 to August 2007. President Thabo Mbeki
Thabo Mbeki
Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki is a South African politician who served two terms as the second post-apartheid President of South Africa from 14 June 1999 to 24 September 2008. He is also the brother of Moeletsi Mbeki...
dismissed her from the Cabinet on August 8, 2007, after which she was automatically reduced to her role as a member of parliament (MP) representing the African National Congress
African National Congress
The African National Congress is South Africa's governing Africanist political party, supported by its tripartite alliance with the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African Communist Party , since the establishment of non-racial democracy in April 1994. It defines itself as a...
. On 25 September 2008, she became Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly
National Assembly of South Africa
The National Assembly is the lower house of the Parliament of South Africa, located in Cape Town, Western Cape Province. It consists of no fewer than 350 and no more than 400 members...
, serving in that capacity until resigning from Parliament in early May 2009. She has been a member of the South African Communist Party
South African Communist Party
South African Communist Party is a political party in South Africa. It was founded in 1921 as the Communist Party of South Africa by the joining together of the International Socialist League and others under the leadership of Willam H...
since 1984.
Madlala-Routledge is well known for helping combat AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
in South Africa, and is considered by many to have resisted government denial of the severity of the epidemic. She was also an opponent of the use of alternative medicine
Alternative medicine
Alternative medicine is any healing practice, "that does not fall within the realm of conventional medicine." It is based on historical or cultural traditions, rather than on scientific evidence....
treatments of HIV
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
in place of scientifically tested methods.
Personal life
Madlala-Routledge is married to Jeremy Routledge. They have two sons, Martin and Simon. She resides in Cape TownCape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
.
A Quaker and former ANC and SA Communist Party underground operative in KwaZulu Natal, she was one of the four-strong SACP delegation to the Convention for a Democratic SA that negotiated the transition from apartheid.
She also served with Cyril Ramaphosa
Cyril Ramaphosa
Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa is a South African lawyer, trade union leader, activist, politician and businessman. He was born in Soweto, Gauteng province...
on the working group that drew up the constitutional framework.
Dismissal as Deputy Minister of Health
On August 8, 2007 on the eve of National Women's DayNational Women's Day
National Women's Day is an annual public holiday in South Africa on August 9. This commemorates the national march of women on this day in 1956 to petition against legislation that required African persons to carry the "pass", special identification documents which curtailed an African's freedom of...
, Madlala-Routledge was removed by President Thabo Mbeki
Thabo Mbeki
Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki is a South African politician who served two terms as the second post-apartheid President of South Africa from 14 June 1999 to 24 September 2008. He is also the brother of Moeletsi Mbeki...
as Deputy Minister of Health. There was some speculation as to the specific reason of her dismissal at the time, given certain speculative elements:
- The long-term disharmony and disagreement on HIV/AIDS and other issues between herself and the Minister of Health (Dr. Manto Tshabalala-MsimangManto Tshabalala-MsimangDr. Mantombazana 'Manto' Edmie Tshabalala-Msimang was a South African politician. She was Deputy Minister of Justice from 1996 to 1999 and controversially served as Minister of Health from 1999 to 2008 under President Thabo Mbeki...
); - Her findings supporting a damning report by the Daily Dispatch on the conditions of the maternity ward at Frere Hospital, which were contradicted by Tshabalala-Msimang and president Mbeki;
- A trip she had made to an AIDS conference in Spain, which was referred to president Mbeki for pre-approval, which was declined after she had left.
- In December 2006, eight months prior to her retrenchment, she described "denial at the very highest levels" over AIDS.
However a press release by the presidency didn't cite any reason for her dismissal. According to the presidency, the president is not obliged to give a reason for sacking a minister; however, it was later revealed in a press conference by Madlala-Routledge that the president had called a meeting asking for her to resign citing the unauthorised trip to an international AIDS conference in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. Madlala-Routledge declined to resign and the next day she was officially dismissed.
Clashes with the Health Minister over HIV/AIDS
The dismissal had come after a long period of repeated public clashes with the Minister of Health, Manto Tshabalala-Msimang over national HIV/AIDS policy.Conflicting reports over Frere Hospital
The two ministers had also released conflicting reports over the conditions of the maternity ward at Frere hospital, in the Eastern CapeEastern Cape
The Eastern Cape is a province of South Africa. Its capital is Bhisho, but its two largest cities are Port Elizabeth and East London. It was formed in 1994 out of the "independent" Xhosa homelands of Transkei and Ciskei, together with the eastern portion of the Cape Province...
province. Madlala-Routledge had reported that conditions at the maternity ward were a 'national disaster'. This was contradicted by Msimang, who reported that her deputy's comments were based on 'untruths', that the mortality rate at the hospital had been exaggerated, and that the infant death rates were 'in line with the national average'.
These events were preceded by an exposé in the Daily Dispatch newspaper over the allegedly appalling conditions at the hospital. Madlala-Routledge first paid a visit to the hospital, which had not been scheduled nor communicated to the hospital, and after her report, Msimang subsequently paid a scheduled and announced visit to the hospital. Finally, writing in his weekly column, president Thabo Mbeki had defended Msimang's report on Frere Hospital and downplayed the Daily Dispatchs investigations as inflammatory, effectively dismissing the deputy minister's views.
'Unauthorised' trip to AIDS conference in Spain
Madlala-Routledge travelled to an international AIDS conference in Spain, which had received approval from the necessary departments but had been forwarded to the President for approval and thus, Presidential approval had not been granted at the time she made the trip. Ultimately, President Mbeki declined authorisation of the trip, which happened when she was already en route to Spain. Upon arrival, and being informed of the declination, Madlala-Routledge cancelled her visit to the conference and travelled home immediately.In a press conference after her dismissal, Madlala-Routledge stated that it is common for ministers to travel without receiving an approval answer from the presidency because ministers often leave at such short notice.
Political career following dismissal
In December 2007, she was elected to the ANC's National Executive Committee in 33rd place.External links
- DOH profile on Madlala-Routledge
- S Africa Aids sacking condemned
- Mbeki a 'scandalous failure' - UK newspaper
- Press Conference with Madlala-Routledge after her dismissal 10.08.2007
- Mbeki fired the wrong minister News24 10.08.2007
- "South Africa and AIDS: Sacking the wrong health minister", The EconomistThe EconomistThe Economist is an English-language weekly news and international affairs publication owned by The Economist Newspaper Ltd. and edited in offices in the City of Westminster, London, England. Continuous publication began under founder James Wilson in September 1843...
, 16 August 2007 - Ubuntu, a traditional African philosophy Madlala-Routledge speaks Global Oneness Project LLC