A Victory for Civil Society Activism

Sipho Mathathi, Secretary General of the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC), victoriously holds up her fist at the National Civil Society HIV and AIDS Prevention and Treatment Congress, a watershed event marking a dramatic change in government’s outlook in dealing with the treatment of HIV and AIDS, after sustained civil society lobbying and advocacy.

The Congress, which took place from 27-28 October 2006 in Randburg, was a high level event which boasted a list of luminary speakers, including, but not limited to, South Africa’s Deputy President, Pumzile Mlambo-Nguka, Deputy Minister of Health, Nosizwe Madlala-Routledge, President of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), Willie Madisha, as well as its General Secretary Zwelinzima Vavi.

The civil society coalition responsible for organising the event, comprised of the TAC, the South African Council of Churches, the South African NGO Coalition and COSATU. A total of 350 delegates representing the various civil society partners attended the event.

The congress had multiple objectives related to reaching consensus about the prevention, treatment and support of HIV/AIDS. This included offering concrete civil society recommendations relating to the restructuring of the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC), an agency that has to date been criticised for being ineffective and unrepresentative. The congress was timed to influence the outcomes of the National AIDS strategy, which is currently being reviewed by the state.

Under the broad banner of solidarity, the congress engaged with the above objectives in relation to the rights of marginalised groups such as women and children. Violence against women was an important area for consideration. Also highlighted, were the rights of prisoners.

South Africa’s Deputy Minister of Health surprised all with her candid acknowledgement that government had failed to develop an effective HIV/AIDS strategy. She expressed government’s willingness to strengthen its partnership with civil society to increase access to AIDS drugs and urged civil society to demand “truthful and honest answers” from the state. She also recognized the need to have more accredited sites  closer to communities to deal with the increasing number of HIV/AIDS patients who need antiretrovirals.

At the same time, Mlambo Nguka, who also heads SANAC invited civil society organisations to play a key role in the restructuring of SANAC to ensure that sectors that are directly affected are represented at this high-level body. She acknowledged the need to have health professionals, representatives of the infected and particularly women, represented at SANAC. Mlambo-Nguka also stressed the need to develop and strengthen partnerships against HIV/AIDS and for government to improve access to antiretrovirals.

TAC’s Mthathi made a rousing input calling for an immediate end to opportunistic nationalism aimed at self interest and personal power. However, she welcomed the Deputy President’s new proposals on SANAC as well as the Department of Health’s partnership invitation.

In general, civil society leaders showed genuine appreciation for government’s new stance, but cautiously pointed out that the weeks in the run up to World AIDS Day on 1 December, when the revised National AIDS strategy will be unveiled, would test government’s dedication to a new vision. Important indicators would be the restructuring of SANAC and concrete commitments to dealing with violence against women.

The civil society congress ended on a confident note as years of critical engagement with the state, largely led by the TAC, showed results. It highlighted an important point made at an earlier event hosted by SANGONeT, which is that partnership within a framework of contestation is important for democratic engagement and that civil society has a critical role to play in sustained debate, substantial advocacy and continued grassroots work.

– Butjwana Seokoma and Fazila Farouk, SANGONeT.