It is clear that President Mbeki does not understand the urgency of the situation facing South Africa with regards to HIV/AIDS.  Over 300 000 people are needing treatment immediately in our country. We are dealing with a situation that is equivalent to two jumbo jets of our people falling out of the sky everyday. This is a national emergency but still the President chooses to question the mortality statistics around HIV/AIDS. This shows a complete lack of compassion for those individuals and communities who are suffering the ravages of this pandemic. Whether it is two plane loads of people dying a day or just one, the people of South Africa need urgent action to be taken. President Mbeki had a prime opportunity to show leadership and compassion on this issue, but once again he chose to fudge the issues, said Patricia de Lille, leader of the Independent Democrats.

President Mbeki is once again incapable of answering a simple question around the implementation of the ARV roll-out. This again confirms what the Independent Democrats have always believed, in that the ARV rollout programme was nothing more that an election ploy to secure more votes for the ANC.  The Independent Democrats understands that there are large problems that need to be overcome in the ARV roll-out programme, but there is still a lack of clarity and focus from the government as to how this will be done. The Independent Democrats will provide sustained leadership on HIV/AIDS and will ensure that the political will to drive the ARV Roll-Out programme is in place.

It is also questionable as to how the government wishes to achieve their target of reaching 1.4 million people with Anti Retrovirals, when they have only tendered to provide ARV's for 25000 people by the end of this financial year.

Issued by Marlon Kruger on 083 212 2109.