NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION -- 2 MAY 2002 MARCH FOR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS -- FIGHT HIV/AIDS AND POVERTY On 2 May, the Constitutional Court will hear the appeal in the case between the Treatment Action Campaign and the Minister of Health and seven provincial MECs for Health. Although the specific issue in this case is mother-to-child tranmission prevention, the precedent that will be set by this hearing will have far wider scope. The Constitution guarantees all people in South Africa access to housing, health, clean water, food, basic education, social security and a protected and healthy environment. The courts should play an important role to ensure that all government policies defend the poor and marginalised. The judiciary can also play a critical role to prevent powerful interests such as drug companies, gun lobbies, huge financial institutions from using their economic power against poor people and the government. All socio-economic provisions in the Constitution are at stake in this crucial hearing. The Court's ruling will determine whether poverty alleviation and eradication in South Africa will have a realistic chance of being realised or whether it will remain an empty promise of the Constitution. It could also provide a guarantee to people with HIV/AIDS that any government has to comply with its constitutional obligations towards the people. We call on all of civil society to mobilise for events around the country on 2 May, calling for mother-to-child transmission prevention and the eradication of poverty. We ask Deputy-President Jacob Zuma and all government leaders to join this demonstration to show that this court case can allow civil society, government and the judiciary to work together and to overcome poverty and inequality. Events on Thursday 2 May ------------------------ Johannesburg: March Commences at Library Gardens at 11am Contact: Pholokgolo, Lefa, Thembani or Nomsa -- 011 403 7021 East London: Meet at North End Stadium (events from 10am to 1pm) March to City Hall (1-4pm) Contact: Ivy or Portia at 043 760 0050 Cape Town: 1 May - Night Vigil (8-12pm), St Georges Cathedral 2 May - Rally at St Georges Cathedral (10am-12:30pm), March from 12:30-3pm Contact: Mandla, Thembeka, Nomfundo or Nondumiso at 021 364 5489 or 021 364 9514 Durban: Interfaith Service, University of Durban Westville, 12:30-2pm Contact: Sizwe, Dee, Thabo or Desmond: 031 304 3673 National Office: Contact Sue at 021 788 3507 Email: info@tac.org.za Website: http://www.tac.org.za/ Subscribe/desubscribe: Send your request to subscribe@tac.org.za