Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2007. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
South African Press Association - August 9, 2007
She will be interviewed live on radio from Cape Town at 10am.
On Thursday, political parties, trade unions and social movements reacted with outrage at Madlala-Routledge's dismissal.
Meanwhile, Mbeki made no mention of the drama in his Women's Day address in Kimberley on Thursday.
Madlala-Routledge was fired after apparently earlier refusing to resign.
International newswire agencies covered the event, with Associated Press describing her as one of South Africa's "most respected woman politicians".
Her outspoken declarations on the state of health-care and in particular on government HIV/Aids policies have been suggested as reasons behind her dismissal.
Most recently there were reports that an anonymous whistleblower drew the president's attention to a R160,000 trip she took to Spain to attend an Aids conference - which Mbeki apparently withdrew his permission for at the last minute.
Primedia said a live interview with Madlala-Routledge would be broadcast on Radio 702 and Cape Talk on Friday.
The Young Communist League said the deputy minister's dismissal embodied "intolerance of critical and dissenting views by the powers be"; as the Congress of South African Trade Unions said they feared the dismissal would "deepen a culture of sycophancy".
The Treatment Action Campaign raised concerns there had been an "orchestrated effort" to get her dismissed.
IFP spokeswoman on health Ruth Rabinowitz said she feared Madlala-Routledge's dismissal suggested "power and obedience are more important than effectiveness and honesty".
Independent Democrats president Patricia de Lille said the timing of the dismissal just before Women's Day was "an insult to every single South African woman who has the courage to stand up for the truth".
The SA Communist Party criticised the lack of consultation taken in the decision to dismiss Madlala-Routledge.
"Had our views as the SACP been properly canvassed, we would have advised otherwise," the party said in a statement on Thursday.
The Democratic Alliance called Madlala-Routledge's dismissal a "disastrous blow for the war on Aids and "a return to the dark ages of denialism".
On Thursday presidential spokesman Mukoni Ratshitanga said Mbeki did not have to provide reasons for the dismissal.
"Members of cabinet and deputy ministers serve at the behest of the president," he said.
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