Manto's liver transplant: DA withdraws Public Protector complaint

The Democratic Alliance earlier this month asked the Office of the Public Protector to investigate whether the President intervened in order to assure a liver transplant for the Minister of Health.

This issue formed part of my discussion with President Thabo Mbeki at our recent meeting at Tuynhuys.

The President gave me a categorical assurance that he had not used his influence to secure a liver transplant for the Minister of Health. I accept his assurance in this regard.

I have requested our health spokesperson, Mike Waters MP, to withdraw his request to the Public Protector to investigate the specific issue of whether President Mbeki exerted undue influence on the hospital or the doctors to secure a liver transplant for Dr Tshabalala-Msimang.

Our source in this regard has not been able to corroborate the allegations and I accept President Mbeki's assurance on this aspect of the debate.