Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2006. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
South African Press Association - August 31, 2006
Zille said the ANC councillors tried to storm the meeting on Wednesday after the speaker, Dirk Smit, had ruled that the doors be closed to allow a vote on whether the city supported the Treatment Action Campaign's (TAC) five-point HIV/Aids plan.
Zackie Achmat, the TAC's chairperson, had addressed the council meeting before the vote, calling on his ANC "comrades" to support the TAC's call for the minister of health to be sacked.
Zille condemned the ANC's behaviour, saying the unnamed security official, who at one stage acted as her bodyguard, remains in hospital with a back injury. "It is an extremely serious situation," she said.
Zille said the ANC, which had requested a 10-minute opportunity to caucus on Wednesday, did not return after 20 minutes and after an official was sent to their offices to inform them of the imminent vote.
She said another motion was tabled and passed on Thursday for all parties to nominate representatives to a multiparty committee to support the TAC in promoting its five demands.
Zille said the ANC rejected being part of this committee and tabled a counter-proposal for Minister of Health Manto Tshabalala-Msimang and Western Cape health minister Pierre Uys to address the council next week. The speaker needs to set a date.
At Wednesday's meeting, Achmat said the TAC is asking President Thabo Mbeki to convene a national crisis meeting immediately to develop an emergency plan on HIV/Aids, to take action on Aids deaths in prisons, and to sack Tshabalala-Msimang and Director General of Health Thami Mseleku.
"We ask you this, not to score political points, but to save lives," Achmat told the council.
Meanwhile, Mbulelo Ncedana, chairperson of the ANC caucus in the city, said the party does not condone violence, and advocates "peace, harmony and stability".
He confirmed Wednesday's scuffles, however. "I was told yesterday [Wednesday] by a security guard that one of their members was pushed. He locked the door and there were councillors forcing their way into the door."
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