Manto's 'lavish' ad campaign slammed

Advertisements placed in a number of national newspapers on Friday by the health department defending its minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang were a waste of taxpayers' money, the Democratic Alliance has said.

The party was responding to three-quarter page, full colour adverts placed in newspapers including the Business Day, The Star, The Cape Times and the Mercury.

The Business Day reported that such an advert comes at a cost of R70,000. In The Star it would cost around R90,000 and one could expect to pay around R40,000 for such an advert in the Cape Times. The advert related to the case between the health minister and the Sunday Times during which she sought to compel the newspaper to return her medical records.

“This is a blatant waste of taxpayers' money,” DA health spokesperson Mike Waters said. “If the minister feels so strongly about defending herself against the Sunday Times' allegations, she should be paying the costs herself.

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