South Africa

South Africa may soon start manufacturing its own antiretroviral drugs to give more people living with HIV a chance to access the life-saving medication. This was announced by Parliament’s deputy speaker, Nozizwe Madlala- Routledge.

Speaking at the opening of a training session for parliamentarians from east and southern Africa on improving access to antiretrovirals, Madlala-Routledge, expressed concern that, “The high cost of drugs is making it impossible for people to access the drugs.”

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has added its voice to a coalition of civil society organisations calling for a revision of the presidential pardon process to address politically motivated crimes.

SAHRC chairperson, Jody Kollapen, says that if a special mechanism is set up to complete the unfinished business of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), that mechanism should follow the philosophy and architecture of the TRC.

The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has assured South Africans that it is prepared for any date for the elections.

IEC chairperson, Brigalia Bam, told NGOs and FBOs that the commission has put all the necessary steps in place to ensure that the elections will be free and fair.

Bam says that unlike in other elections, 1 648 189 people have registered for the first time, with 77,9 percent of the new registrations falling in the youth category, which is in the 18 to 29 age bracket.

Eskom says that while costs for its two new power plants had risen on the back of volatile commodity markets, they will be completed on time.

Company spokesperson, Fani Zulu, points out that the costs for the Medupi power station had risen to R100 billion from previous estimates of R84-billion. Costs for Kusile are now estimated at R111 billion, up from previous forecasts of R80 billion.

The Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) has condemned the deportation of a Cape Town musician who was kicked out of China due to her HIV-positive status.

The woman, who refused to be named, has since returned to Cape Town after she was allegedly ordered by the Chinese authorities to leave that country when her blood tests showed she was HIV-positive.

TAC has described the singer's deportation a "gross human rights violation" and a "setback" to the prevention and anti-stigmatisation campaigning doneby AIDS activists.