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 10, 2007
Madlala-Routledge's live-on-radio press briefing led to numerous responses from various groups, including her own former department.
"I've been fired for paying an unannounced visit to Frere Hospital on the 13th of July 2007 and for my response to the shocking situation I found in the maternity ward," the former deputy said.
This visit to Frere Hospital was prompted by the much publicised story broken by the Daily Dispatch newspaper after a two-month under-cover investigation into why babies died at Frere Hospital, she said.
"The other reason for my dismissal is the much publicised trip I undertook to Madrid to address a conference hosted by...the International Aids Vaccine Initiative.
"What is at issue here is that I went to Madrid without permission from the president."
The Presidency said today it had noted Madlala-Routledge's statements but reiterated that the President did not usually give reasons for appointing and relieving Cabinet members and deputy ministers.
"We will neither be responding to her statements nor giving reasons why she was relieved of her duties," said spokesman Mukoni Ratshitanga.
The health department refuted a statement by Madlala-Routledge that Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang had said she would "fix" her deputy.
Asked whether she had been "set-up" by Tshabalala-Msimang, Madlala-Routledge said "I can't say".
"But I will say that when I spoke in the National Council of Provinces two years ago, and this is the time when I was almost sacked, the minister of health had said to me, and had not looked at me, 'I'll fix you', and maybe she has fixed me."
Tshabalala-Msimang's department said no such statement was ever made.
"We have confirmed with the minister that no such statement was ever made."
The African National Congress parliamentary caucus said it accepted Mbeki's decision and thanked Madlala-Routledge for her role.
"Caucus accepts the President's decision and affirms his prerogative afforded by the Constitution to appoint and release members of the executive."
Asked whether she was fired for "doing her job", Madlala-Routledge said the Constitution clearly stated the authority and responsibilities of members of the executive.
"I agree with you...I was just doing my job. And I did follow protocol, because one of the things that was said was I like to act outside of the structures, and I don't know what this means, because we have our Constitution.
"I had delegated functions, although it was difficult at first before acting Minister [Jeff] Radebe was in the ministry for a short while, because it was he who realised that the [delegated functions] were meaningless without authority.
"And he signed, giving me authority. Just before I was dismissed that authority was withdrawn by the Minister of Health.
"So, the answer to your question is that indeed I had the responsibility and obligation to go and find out why babies are dying..."
The aborted trip to Madrid was a lost opportunity for South Africa, Madlala-Routledge said.
The SA Medical Association said it regretted the decision and that Madlala-Routledge had served "as a source of inspiration" in the fight against HIV/Aids.
Various political parties - including the Independent Democrats, the Democratic Alliance and the FF Plus - criticised the axing.
In response to allegations that Aids programmes would be undermined by her departure, the health department said it remained committed to implementing government's guiding document, the National Strategic Plan on HIV/Aids for 2007-2011.
Madlala-Routledge was dismissed by Mbeki after refusing to resign.
On why she refused to resign when asked by Mbeki, she said she would like to know what processes were followed to establish that "I had broken rules in how I organised my trip to Madrid".
"But at that stage already, I did not think that doing what I was paid to do was wrong."
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