National Assembly Cape Town: 23 August 2007  

Madame Speaker, 

The IFP have been closely following the debate among South Africans regarding the Minister of Health, Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang. 

The President of the IFP, Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi MP, has pointed out that the raging debate fills him with disquiet as it borders on a witch hunt against the Minister.  

The IFP therefore wants to reiterate Prince Buthelezi's stance that there is a need to maintain the dividing line between a Minister's public accountability and a person's private life. The IFP believes we should rather weigh the Minister on her performance in public life. 

The IFP has never shied away from criticising the Minister of Health when we disagreed with her policies or when they failed the constitutional test. We have for instance been vociferous in our condemnation of the Minister's role in the government's failed HIV / AIDS policy. 

But, our criticism has been limited to the Minister's public life and performance and has not crossed the line into her private life. The current debate is dangerously close to blurring that line completely. 

Thank you