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 - September 5, 2006
"In terms of section 32(1) of the Constitution 'everyone has the right of access to any information held by the state'. Furthermore, section 195 clearly states that in order to foster this right and to act transparently, the public administration must foster transparency by providing 'timely, accessible and accurate information' to the public," said a researcher at the Grahamstown-based independent monitor, Stacey-Leigh Joseph.
She said health officials should obey the Constitution rather than Mseleku.
The Sunday Times reported that Mseleku had ordered all provincial senior health officials not to speak to the media about HIV/Aids or about a proposed visit to South Africa by UN special envoy to Africa Stephen Lewis, who has been strongly critical of the government's HIV/Aids programme.
The newspaper said Mseleku regarded Lewis's remarks at the recent Toronto Aids conference as "particularly scathing and derogatory about the South African government".
"You are thus requested not to give any interview to any media related to the Aids issue or the Lewis visit," Mseleku reportedly wrote to his officials.
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