John Robbie, a host on 702 Talk Radio, has said he will neither resign nor apologise following a heated live interview on HIV/Aids with the minister of health, Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, during which he told her to "go away".
Robbie was reacting to an earlier statement by the African National Congress (ANC) that he should step down or be dismissed.
"My reaction to their statement was one of great disappointment," said Robbie. "The most important thing of the interview was that it took place ... It was a lively debate, which resulted in criticism from either way.
"This debate would not have happened pre-1990 or in a dictatorship. It was a sign of democracy in South Africa," he said.
Speaking for the ANC, Smuts Ngonyama earlier said the radio station owed the minister an apology.
"The African National Congress calls upon Radio 702 to apologise to the minister of health, Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, and to the nation for the shabby, despicable treatment and disrespect by their talk show host, John Robbie."
The statement said Robbie abused his position as a journalist.
"Once a journalist rudely uses his or her position as a licence to insult people, he or she loses the right to call himself or herself a journalist and must immediately resign or be dismissed for undermining the noble profession of journalism."
Robbie's interview with Tshabalala-Msimang on Tuesday evening over a controversial Aids document ended in a furious row, with Robbie telling the minister off.
"Go away. I cannot take that rubbish any longer. Can you believe it ... I have never in my life heard such rubbish," said Robbie at the termination of the interview with Tshabalala-Msimang, in which she refused to spell out whether she believed HIV causes Aids.
The grilling by Robbie began with him asking the minister about a document outlining an "Aids conspiracy".
The document was sent to the health department unsolicited and anonymously, and Tshabalala-Msimang in turn circulated to provincial health departments, apparently as part of a routine exchange of information.
The distribution of the document followed controversy earlier this year about President Thabo Mbeki's apparent courting of the views of dissident foreign scientists - some of whom believe Aids does not exist.
When Robbie asked Tshabalala-Msimang directly whether she believed HIV led to Aids, the minister replied: "I have answered that question. You will not force me into a corner into whether saying 'yes' or 'no'. You will not pressurise me to answer that."
"I find your position to that question bizarre," Robbie said.
The two had a further battle of words with the minister clearly irritated by Robbie continually referring to her as "Manto".
"I am not Manto to you. I am not your friend," said Tshabalala-Msimang, at which point Robbie ended the interview, telling her to "go away".
The ANC said: "Robbie and his ilk enjoy hiding behind freedom of expression to abuse their positions, forgetting that freedom of expression also includes freedom from old prejudices and attitudes.
"Until and unless Radio 702 apologises for this professional mischief, it will be difficult for us to have anything more to do with the institution."
The Democratic Alliance condemned the ANC's reaction to the incident.
"The DA lauds Radio 702 and broadcasters such as John Robbie who are not prepared to accept and promote the ANC, its leaders and its policies at face value.
"The ANC prefers the media to sink to its knees in open-mouthed admiration and probing journalism is regarded as totally unacceptable," the DA said.
702 Talk Radio said the station would comment later. - Sapa