Treatment Action Campaign

The AIDS Law Project has brought a case against the South African National Defence Force on behalf of the South African Security Forces Union (SASFU) and three individuals with HIV who have been discriminated against. The case will be heard in the Pretoria High Court on 15 to 16 May 2008.

AIDS Law Project Press Statement, 9 May 2008, For Immediate Release

DEFEND ETHICAL DOCTORS FROM UNETHICAL POLITICIANS
DR MALCOLM NAUDE GOES TO LABOUR COURT TO CHALLENGE DISMISSAL IN 2001 FOR PROVIDING ARVs TO RAPE SURVIVORS

The AIDS and Rights Alliance for Southern Africa has made a submission to the Department of Social Development on the draft Prevention of and Treatment for Substance Abuse Bill. The TAC endorses their submission.

Statistics are suspicious and appear to be plagiarised from an out-of-date source

On Sunday 4 May, the Sunday Independent reported  HIV statistics released by the Development Bank of South Africa. In particular, the report stated:

TAC will protest in Khayelitsha on Saturday 26 April against violence in our communities.

On the basis of two Cochrane reviews, we have decided to modify our existing materials and withdraw the recommendation that otherwise healthy adults with HIV take multivitamin supplements. This must not be construed as a recommendation against taking these supplements but as an application of the cautionary principle that medical interventions should only receive a positive recommendation if there is compelling evidence or reason to do so.

The Kwazulu-Natal (KZN) Department of Health has yet again taken disciplinary action against a doctor without good reason, this time Dr Mark Blaylock of Manguzi hospital.

Join the demonstration hosted by PASSOP, TAC and other organisations at the Inter-Parliamentary Union meeting on Thursday 17 April 2008 from 12pm to 2pm at the Cape Town International Convention Centre.

Also read the memorandum TAC will hand over to the Inter-Parliamentary Union.

The Advertising Standards Authority of South Africa (ASASA) has upheld a complaint by the Treatment Action Campaign against an advertisement for the fake AIDS cure, Ubhejane, placed by Zeblon Gwala in Ilanga newspaper on 6 December 2007.

The ruling is here.

The contents of Ubhejane have never been made public. It has never been tested in clinical trials. It is unregistered and sold illegally as a cure or treatment for HIV.

Murderers of Makeke sentenced to 20 years

TAC gets protection order against Yanga Janet

On 7 April, Thembinkosi Ntukani, 24, and Bonga Sibhozo, 19, were sentenced to 20 years in prison for the murder of Nandipha Makeke. According to SAPA, Magistrate Robert Matshikwe said Tukani and Sibozi acted without reason and remorse and deserved to be removed from society.