SA Port Operations funds orphans of AIDS

South African Port Operations (SAPO) advanced its "HIV/AIDS Lifestyle Management" policy recently with the donation of a large sum of money and clothing to the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Social Welfare. SAPO announced its Lifestyle Management Programme, aimed at reaching out to the community, earlier in 2002.

The donation came in the form of a cheque for R100 000 to be used to support orphans of AIDS in the Nongoma and Mahlabathini area and to provide for their educational needs. Clothing collected from SAPO clients and other stakeholders will be distributed by Social Welfare staff in the same area.

Tau Morwe, SAPO's Chief Executive, said a partnership would be formed between SAPO and the Department of Social Welfare from the start of the new financial year on 1 April 2003, and in response to this, the Provincial Minister, Prince Gideon Zulu, said he welcomed such initiatives. "HIV/AIDS is having a disastrous impact of the social and economic development of the province. In much of KZN this will prove to be the strongest single obstacle to reaching provincial poverty reduction targets and the development goals of the Department."

He said the Province's response was to contain the epidemic and prevent new infections through advocacy, information and education campaigns, behaviour change communications, condom distribution and programmes that targeted vulnerable groups.

"The fact that HIV/AIDS kills young adults means that more children and older persons are left vulnerable and may face more poverty. We therefore have to increase our care and support services to children while simultaneously creatng a more supportive and enabling environment for older persons."

The Minister said the Province had made R8,4 million available to develop the first sites and the money from SAPO would go towards the educational needs of orphans of AIDS at two of these sites.