Issued by Department of Health
16 August 2006
The Ministry of Health condemns the attempt by members of the Treatment Action Campaign 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 material on HIV and 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 (Treasurer), Sipho Mthathi (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.
Contact: Sibani Mngadi @ 0827720161