TAC launches civil disobedience campaign

The Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) said on Friday that it would go ahead with a civil disobedience campaign after government had failed to sign a framework agreement for a national HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention plan.

"TAC notes with deep regret that government has missed our February 28 deadline for signing the Nedlac (National Economic Development and Labour Council) framework agreement for a national HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention plan. Our plans to begin a campaign of peaceful civil disobedience remain unchanged," TAC spokesperson Mark Heywood said.

Campaigners said they were willing "to fill the prisons and jail cells" to win treatment for people living with HIV and AIDS.

The lobby group would engage in civil disobedience from March 21 if the government did not demonstrate urgency in making treatment available, TAC national organiser Mandla Majola told the National Assembly's health committee.
Heywood confirmed the date on Friday, adding that the TAC had started the first of many "civil disobedience preparation workshops" to train volunteers in civil disobedience. Asked about the Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) making a U-turn on the existence of the agreement on Thursday, he said "we are different organisations and sometimes approach the same issue differently".

He explained that to his knowledge Cosatu was still fully committed to a national treatment plan through Nedlac and that he was a representative at Nedlac on the issue.

Negotiators acting on behalf of organised labour, big business, the government and civil society had, bar "one or two" paragraphs, reached agreement on a plan in November and had undertaken to submit it to their principals for ratification.

About two weeks ago, Cosatu described as "distressing" the government's statements denying the existence of an agreement with labour and business on the treatment of HIV/AIDS.

On Thursday, its spokesperson Vukani Mde, said a misunderstanding had arisen in the media about the status of the draft document under discussion at Nedlac.

"While the engagement had developed substantial areas of consensus and a draft framework document had been developed, the parties agreed that it would only be finalised when approved by the principals," Mde said.