Aids march on parliament
2001-11-26 17:03
Cape Town - About 2 000 Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) supporters marched on parliament on Monday to demand a national programme to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission.
The demonstration was a show of support for the TAC court case
being heard in the Pretoria High Court, intended to force
government to provide Nevirapine to HIV-positive pregnant women.
The protesters handed over a memorandum to the health ministry's parliamentary officer, Johannes Kgatle, who said he would forward the message to the minister.
The memorandum appeals to Health Minister Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang to drop government's opposition to the TAC's demand.
TAC Western Cape co-ordinator Mandla Majola said South Africans had a right to be angry with the government for failing to listen to their grievances, and blamed President Thabo Mbeki.
"We have a right to be angry... we have a right to be
frustrated," he said.
The crowd sang and danced, under the watchful eye of a strong police contingent.
Posters and crosses
The protesters, including a small group from the Tembaletu
disabled school, placed white crosses and small coffins at the
gates of parliament, and carried placards appealing for a change in the government's attitude.
The posters included: "Aids kills jobs Thabo", "How many more children must die of HIV" and "Nationwide MTCT (mother-to-child
transmission) programme now."
One read, "Thabo your ideas are toxic", a reference to Mbeki's
contention that anti-retovirals are toxic to humans.
Speaking at the march, Pan Africanist Congress MP Patricia
de Lille said it was a myth to believe that one could have HIV/Aids prevention programmes without treatment.
"They complement each other... government must provide both."
- SAPA