Health Minister Zweli Mkhize considers the Professor Glenda Gray matter closed and denied that academic freedom and freedom of expression are under threat.

Last week, Gray, the president of the SA Medical Research Council (SAMRC) and a member of the Ministerial Advisory Committee (MAC), came under fire over comments to News24 in which she criticised some of the government's lockdown regulations as "unscientific".

Meanwhile, acting director-general of the Department of Health Anban Pillay wrote to the SAMRC, asking for an investigation into Gray.

READ MORE | Glenda Gray 'grateful for support' as SAMRC calls off investigation into her lockdown criticism

Several academics came out in support of Gray amid public concern that the government was trying to silence critical voices from the scientific community.

Mkhize told MPs he got a call from Gray, who said she wanted to discuss the matter and would retract her comments.