16 August 2006
The Ministry of Health condemns the attempt by members of the Treatment
Action Campaign (TAC) to attack and vandalise the South African Government
exhibition stand at the International AIDS Conference in Toronto, Canada today,
16 August 2006.
TAC spokesperson, Nathan Giffen and the organisation's senior member Vuyani
Jacobs led a group of TAC supporters into the exhibition on Wednesday
afternoon. They tried to confiscate garlic, lemon and beetroot that are
exhibited at the stand along with antiretroviral drugs, condoms and various IEC
materials on HIV/ AIDS. One of the panels of the stand was damaged.
Giffen and other TAC supporters were making abusive utterances and
threatening government officials and Khomanani service providers who are
running the stand. The Ministry of Health would like to commend the officials
who were able to protect the contents of the stand despite threatening and
abusive behaviour of TAC supporters.
The Ministry condemns in strongest possible terms the intolerance
demonstrated by TAC supporters and damage to government property. We call on
the leaders of the TAC to take appropriate action to deal with the disruptive,
abusive and threatening behaviour of its spokesperson Giffen and Jacobs.
Many of the TAC leaders are in Toronto attending the conference including
Mark Heywood the treasurer, Sipho Mthathi the general secretary, Fatima Hassan
and Jonathan Berger.
They have a duty to protect the integrity of our democratic country by
taking strong action against the intolerant behaviour of the members of their
organisation and damage to government property.
South Africa is a free nation and an attempt to suppress divergent views
through violent means undermines our internationally renowned democratic
constitution.
Enquiries:
Sibani Mngadi
Cell: 082 772 0161
Issued by: Ministry of Health
16 August 2006
