A major political row has erupted between the Gauteng provincial government and Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang after the province's decision to provide Nevirapine to HIV-positive pregnant mothers.
The minister has distanced herself from Gauteng's decision, announced by Premier Mbhazima Shilowa, in an address to mark the opening of the provincial legislature.
A statement issued this morning from the Ministry of Health said: "The minister finds the statement to be contrary to the resolution adopted by all MECs for health and the minister during a meeting last month.
"In the minister's view, the Gauteng premier's announcement is, therefore, in breach of that resolution as well as the earlier Minmec (a forum of ministers and MECs) decisions setting out the envisaged roll-out programme based on the experiences and lessons learnt from the agreed upon research sites."
Tshabalala-Msimang's statement contradicted words from her director-general, Ayanda Ntsaluba, who said Gauteng's decision was in line with national protocols.
Jo-Anne Collinge, a spokesperson for the department of health, said she was not sure whether Ntsaluba had checked his statement with the minister before releasing it.
While slamming the actions of the provincial government, the national ministry could not give any answers as to how the minister foresaw taking the matter forward.
Her spokesperson, Sibani Mngadi, who was awaiting the minister's arrival in Bloemfontein, said: "What is happening in Gauteng is against policy as stated in Minmec. Minmec now has to decide what, if any, action should be taken. Decisions made at Minmec have been violated. But at this stage I do not know how the matter is going to be taken forward."
Mngadi, when asked about the contradictory statement made by the health department said: "I don't know why yesterday one thing was said and today another. But I do know that the minister's word is final."
In another development, former president Nelson Mandela, who has been critical of the government's approach towards the HIV/Aids pandemic, said he would not say a word on issues related to HIV/Aids, unless he had consulted with the ANC.
His office said it was not that Mandela felt that Nevirapine should not be provided to pregnant HIV-positive women. But he agreed with the ANC-led policy that the government should wait on test results before decisions are made.
Following a lengthy meeting between Mandela, President Thabo Mbeki, Deputy President Jacob Zuma and other top ANC officials, a decision was made that Mandela would not make any statements in his own personal capacity on the issue, but would speak about it after first consulting with the ANC.
Gauteng is the first African National Congress-led province to announce the roll-out of its Aids programme, seemingly in conflict with the government's national HIV/Aids policy.
Tshabalala-Msimang recently said she was awaiting the results of research done at 18 pilot projects to determine the effects of Nevirapine on mothers and their children. The oldest child to receive the drug is currently eight months old and children are being monitored up to one year.
The government indicated that it would not make the drugs available at state hospitals until the research had been completed. - Own Correspondents