'YOU'RE FIRED!' IN SOUTH AFRICA HAS WORLD AGHAST

South African activists protest unjust dismissal of deputy minister of health Protesters support Madlala-Routledge on Wednesday.

More than 1,500 South African AIDS activists gathered Wednesday at a Cape Town cathedral to protest President Thabo Mbeki's unjust firing of Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge, the now former Deputy Minister of Health and to demand that the government still implement National Strategic Plan (2007-2011). There is deep concern that the loss of a sane voice in the South African government on AIDS policy will undue the steps forward in recent months .

Legendary Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) leader Zackie Achmat, marched the group to Parliament to hand over a letter demanding Madlala-Routledge's reinstatement. The letter was denied.

"This is a deep, deep tragedy for the country, for democracy and above all for HIV-AIDS," Achmat said of Madlala-Routledge's dismissal.

Read the rest in the Housing Works AIDS Issues Update.


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