'No need for antagonism'

2003-06-18 16:15

Cape Town - There is a need to move away from the notion that accountability and oversight can best be done by an opposition that has to be unnecessarily antagonistic to the executive, Deputy President Jacob Zuma said on Wednesday.

Speaking during debate on the presidency budget vote in the national assembly, he said what was required was an opposition constructive in its engagement with the executive, and which would help government build South Africa.

"We need to see executive accountability and parliamentary oversight as a partnership that is aimed at leading to improved government for our citizens."

Aids

Turning to HIV and Aids, Zuma said: "We are most effective when working together in partnership, when facing challenges, especially those of the magnitude of HIV/Aids."

Although there was still no cure for Aids, it was government's belief that the response to the epidemic had to be holistic.

Government's five-year strategic plan took this into account, and focused on prevention, treatment, care, support and research.

Although challenges remained, "we are beginning to see good results".

Consensus

Having engaged various stakeholders as chairman of the South African National Aids Council (SANAC), Zuma said he strongly believed there was now national consensus on the strategic plan.

"We may have some differences in emphasis with regard to implementation, by one or two sectors, but we are all agreed on the need for a holistic response, as enunciated in the national plan.

"It therefore becomes crucial that we engage each other regularly and work together as various sectors to harmonise our response," he said.

SANAC was fulfilling this role, and had completed its restructuring and become more representative of various sectors.

The inaugural meeting of the new council was scheduled to take place next month.

"The task ahead of us remains huge, and it is important that we focus all our energies on an effective response to the epidemic," Zuma said.

- SAPA