M Tshabalala-Msimang on response to Business Day article

12 January 2009

“African National Congress (ANC) delays lists conference over provincial
snags”

It is disturbing that in the midst of all the excitement with all the
political stories to write about, some political writers Hajra Ormajee and
Karima Brown fail to adhere to some basic rules of their journalism
profession.

In the article, “ANC delays lists conference over provincial snags”,
Business Day 12 January 2009 reports that the Minister in the Presidency, Dr
Manto Tshabalala-Msimang “indicated that she would not be in the cabinet
despite remaining a member of the ANC’s national executive committee.”

There was never such an indication from the minister nor had the two
political writers contacted the minister for such a comment.

Ormajee has admitted that she never spoke to the minister but used
information from another newspaper whose name she cannot recall. She also
failed to credit this piece of information to that “newspaper.”

Tshabalala-Msimang is a disciplined member of her party, ANC and abides by
all the decisions taken by the party including on issues of deployment. She
indicated that she has no knowledge of the allegation and was never consulted
by Hajra Omarjee and Karima Brown.

She has been duly elected to the National Executive Committee of the ANC and
that of ANC Women’s League and will serve in whatever capacity that the ANC
deems appropriate.

As directed by the ANC, Tshabalala-Msimang served as a Member of Parliament
and chairperson of the health portfolio committee (1994/96), Deputy Minister of
Justice (1996/99), Minister of Health (1999/08) and now the Minister in the
Presidency.

In all these portfolios, she has always been determined to implement and
defend the policies of the ANC.

Issued by: The Presidency
12 January 2009