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 6, 2006
"If allowed to go unchallenged, the move will set an extremely negative precedent for freedom of expression in our public service," the Freedom of Expression Institute (FXI) and Open Democracy Advice Centre (ODAC) said in a joint statement.
Department of Health director general Thami Mseleku reportedly instructed top provincial health officials not to comment on HIV/Aids.
The FXI and ODAC said they interpreted the department's instruction as censorship.
"It means employees will have to refrain from any form of commentary or reasonable criticism of their own government for fear of being dismissed.
"This is surely not what a democracy is about."
The groups called on the Department of Health to desist from further attempts to gag its workers.
"We, instead, encourage the department to embrace divergent views on health policy in the country and pay particular attention to their own workers.
"By listening and engaging, instead of threatening and gagging, the department can only improve its own policies as well as its image locally and internationally."
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 United Nations 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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