Thabo Mbeki yesterday stood accused of personally ordering medical staff to allow his ailing Health Minister to jump the queue for a liver transplant.

The South African President had spoken directly to surgeons to demand that Manto Tshabalala-Msimang be given priority treatment despite being an alcoholic who continued to drink, it was claimed.

He also insisted that her medical records should describe her condition “as being the result of ‘auto-immune hepatitis’ rather than alcoholism.”

The allegations were made by Helen Zille, leader of the opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) party. She told The Times that she had asked Lawrence Mushwana, the Public Protector, to investigate possible abuse of power by Mr Mbeki, who has so far stood by Dr Tshabalala-Msimang.

Ms Zille, a former journalist, said that a “concrete source” had informed her party that Mr Mbeki contacted surgeons at the Donald Gordon Medical Centre in Johannesburg and insisted that they approve a liver transplant for Dr Tshabalala-Msimang.

Ms Zille said: “We have to use the public health system for the benefit of the people, and strict rules have to be applied.

“It is of extreme public importance that the truth of these allegations be established. It is the public’s right to know whether Mbeki intervened to insist that the Health Minister be pushed up the public waiting list.”

Dr Tshabalala-Msimang has proved a controversial choice as Health Minister, not least for stating that a diet of olive oil, beetroot and garlic is the best way to combat South Africa’s Aids epidemic, the worst in the world.

Yesterday Mukoni Ratshitanga, Mr Mbeki’s spokesman, told SAFM radio that anyone with evidence that Dr Tshabalala-Msimang had failed in her duties should report it to the presidency. He said that Mr Mbeki would not dismiss a minister based on a press report. Asked if the President had faith in Dr Tshabalala-Msimang’s ability to do her job, Mr Ratshitanga said: “Yes.”

Times Recommends

• Please help: maimed children of war want their lives back
• Cabal seizes diamond riches to buy power
• White House gatecrashers got to the president