South African axed Health deputy ministe

South African axed Health deputy minister Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge speaks as she gives, 10 August 2007, a press conference at Cape Talk radio studio in Cape Town. South African President Thabo Mbeki has axed his deputy health minister who questioned the national AIDS policy, a move experts Thursday warned could have a "deadly" impact in the HIV-blighted nation. Mbeki, who attracted flak some years ago for questioning the link between HIV and AIDS and who is seen to be sensitive to criticism that the government is not doing enough to combat the pandemic, sacked Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge on Wednesday. AFP PHOTO/GIANLUIGI GUERCIA (Photo credit should read GIANLUIGI GUERCIA/AFP via Getty Images)