Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2007. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
BBC News - August 24, 2007
Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge, who was sacked earlier this month for making the journey to Madrid, has been asked to pay 312,000 rand ($42,000, 21,000 pounds).
President Thabo Mbeki has called Ms Madlala-Routledge a "lone ranger".
Her sacking was condemned by Aids activists and the opposition as a setback in the fight against HIV.
They say she played a critical role in changing South African policy towards the treatment of HIV/Aids, moving it towards a more science-based approach.
Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang had for years propagated the idea that the virus could be combated by diet.
Some 5.5m South Africans are HIV positive, more than in any other country.
'Witch-hunt'
"The director general has sent a letter to the former deputy health minister requesting the repayment of 312,000 rand. It relates to the flight costs," said health spokesperson Sibani Mngadi.
After her sacking, Ms Madlala-Routledge denied reports that she had defied President Mbeki by going to Madrid with her son and a consultant.
She said she acted in good faith.
But in a statement on the African National Congress (ANC) website, Mr Mbeki said she was flouting the authority of the party.
"None of the members of the ANC deployed in government will be treated by our movement as heroes and heroines on the basis of 'lone ranger' behaviour, so-called because of their defiance of agreed positions and procedures of our movement and government," he said.
The opposition Democratic Alliance has said the attempt to recover the airfares was a "witch-hunt".
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