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The definitive South African HIV/AIDS Timeline

The Siyayinqoba Beat It! HIV/AIDS Timeline is a resource in itself because it documents the response to the epidemic from government, the international community, civil society, health professionals and individuals since 1983. It also serves to place the Archive's footage in the specific socio-political context in which it was filmed.


1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2008

 

  • 9 August 1998 - HIV/AIDS Schools Policy

    National Policy on HIV/AIDS for Learners and Educators in Public Schools adopted due to Nkosi Johnson and his foster mother Gail Johnson's courage.

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  • 1 December 1998 - Gugu Dlamini

    In December 1998 Gugu Dlamini was murdered because of her HIV positive status. From KwaMashu, a township on the outskirts of Durban, she had publicly disclosed her HIV status on World AIDS Day. After her disclosure, Dlamini was accused of shaming her community and was repeatedly assaulted and threatened. Her calls for police assistance went unheeded. Three weeks later, she was fatally assaulted. Her perpetrators sent a message to her boyfriend saying: “You can come fetch your dog. We are finished with her.” These perpetrators were never found, charged or convicted.

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  • 22 April 1999 - Edwin Cameron discloses his HIV status

    Justice Edwin Cameron discloses his HIV positive status publicly to the Judicial Services Commission.

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  • 17 October 1999 - First episode of Beat It! broadcast

    The first episode of Beat It! – the programme for everyone living with HIV/AIDS their partners, families, friends, colleagues and healthcare workers, is broadcast on South Africa’s free to air TV station ETV.

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  • 5 December 1999 - Achmat to not take ARVs until public sector roll-out

    Zackie Achmat tells South Africa on Beat It! broadcast that he will not be taking antiretroviral therapy until it becomes available to all South Africans who need it through the public sector. He says: “The reason I won’t take treatment is because the vast majority of people with HIV/AIDS in our country…cannot afford to be healthy.”

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  • 9 May 2000 - TAC gives evidence to Parliament over pharmaceutical pricing

    Christopher Moraka and several other TAC volunteers give evidence at a special parliamentary hearing on pharmaceutical pricing.

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  • 27 July 2000 - Christopher Moraka laid to rest

    TAC activist Christopher Moraka, who died of severe oral thrush and other AIDS-related infections, is laid to rest in Nyanga, Cape Town. Access to the antifungal drug fluconazole – under patent by Pfizer – may have saved his life.

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  • 17 August 2000 - TAC launches the Christopher Moraka Defiance Campaign Against Patent Abuse

    TAC launches the Christopher Moraka Defiance Campaign Against Patent Abuse.

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  • 29 September 2000 - Rights of PWAs in the work place furthered

    The Constitutional Court rules on pre-employment testing in the case: Hoffmann v South African Airways.

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  • October 2000 - Framework for the treatment of opportunistic infections released

    The HIV/AIDS and STDs Directorate of the Department of Health releases its detailed ‘Recommendations for the Prevention and Treatment of Opportunistic and HIV-Related Diseases in Adults.’ The document states that “HIV causes immune system damage through the effects of ongoing viral replication and this ultimately leads to AIDS.”

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  • 19 October 2000 - Zackie Achmat illegally imports generic fluconazole

    Zackie Achmat illegally imports 5000 capsules of Fluconazole from Thailand in defiance of Pfizer’s patent.

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  • 19 April 2001 - PMA withdraws its patent case against the SA government

    The Pharmaceutical Manufacturer's Association and member companies withdrew their case against the South African government unconditionally. The PMA were challenging parts of the Medicines and Related Substances Amendment Act of 1997, which allowed for sustituting generic medicines for off-patent branded medicines,asked for transparent pricing mechanisms and allowed for the importation of cheaper branded medicines from other countries.

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  • 20 August 2001 - TAC takes legal action on PMTCT

    TAC announces its intention to take Minister of Health Manto Tshabalala-Msimang to court with a constitutional challenge over her failure to implement a programme on PMTCT.

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  • 28 January 2002 - TAC and MSF defy patent laws

    TAC and MSF defy patent laws and import generic drugs from Brazil into South Africa. The drugs are brought to South Africa by a group of TAC members.

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  • 17 April 2002 - Cabinet statement on PMTCT progress, possible ART roll-out & PEP

    A cabinet statement is released which says the Department of Health is working on a universal PMTCT rollout plan. The statement also says that although the cost of HAART is prohibitive Cabinet would not rule out providing HAART at a later stage. The statement also announces the rollout of post-exposure prophylaxis for rape survivors.

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  • 22 June 2002 - Mandela visits Achmat

    Nelson Mandela visited Zackie Achmat with the intention to ask him to reconsider commencing antiretroviral therapy. Zackie respectfully refused Mandela's request prompting Mandela to say in a press conference after their meeting that Zackie "is a role model and his action is based on fundamental principles, which we all admire." "People far beyond our borders are aware of the principled stand that he has taken. It would have been feeble for me to come to him to say: "I want you now to change; to take drugs," because his position is that as long as drugs are not available to everybody especially the poor, he will not take them."

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  • 27 - 29 June 2002 - TAC and COSATU’s Treatment Congress

    TAC, COSATU and a broad coalition of health professionals, civil society, faith based organisations and some government officials hold a Treatment Congress and call for the roll-out of antiretroviral treatment in the public sector.

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  • 5 July 2002 - Constitutional Court rules on PMTCT

    5 July 2002 - The Constitutional Court rules in favour of TAC on PMTCT ordering government to roll-out a prevention of mother-to-child transmission programme nationally.

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  • October 2003 - Tine van der Maas with the Minister’s support treats Khabzela; advices against ARVs

    Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang sends Tine van der Maas, a retired Dutch nurse to treat Khabzela. Maas sells a nostrum called “Africa’s Solution” as an AIDS remedy and recommends that people fight HIV through diet rather than through ARV therapy. Even though Khabzela’s CD4 count is 2 van der Maas says: “He doesn’t want ARVs. I say to him it is not necessary.”

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  • 20 November 2003 - Government adopts Treatment Plan

    Government adopts the Operational Plan for Comprehensive Treatment and Care for HIV and AIDS.

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  • 12 December 2003 – Former President Mandela inaugurates an ARV site in Lusikisiki

    Former President Nelson Mandela inaugurates an antiretroviral treatment site in Lusikisiki in the Eastern Cape. The treatment site is a collaboration between Medecins Sans Frontieres and the Nelson Mandela Foundation. MSF has been active in the area since January. The adult prevalence rate in and around Lusikisiki is between 30 and 35%.

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  • 13 December 2003 - Lorna Mlofana is raped & murdered

    Lorna Mlofana from Town 2 Branch is sexually assaulted by a man who murders her when he learns that she is HIV positive. Another women who arrives on the scene while Lorna is being fatally assaulted, assaults Lorna too because she believes Lorna is infecting the township men.

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  • 14 January 2004 – Fana “Khabzela” Khaba dies of AIDS related infections at the age of 35.

    12 December 1968 – 14 January 2004 DJ Khabzela, disclosed his HIV positive status publicly on the popular youth radio station, Yfm in May 2003. Khabzela the host of the most popular show on the station chose however not to take antiretrovirals once his HIV had progressed to full blown AIDS. Instead he opted for various other unproven remedies (supported by the South African Minister of Health) that would hold no benefits for his ailing health. He passed away on the 14th of January 2004 at the age of 35 after having endured immense pain and suffering.

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  • 28 April 2004 - Prince Nelisuzulu dies of AIDS-related illnesses

    Prince Nelisuzulu Buthelezi dies of AIDS-related illnesses. The Buthelezi family speaks openly about the Princes’ HIV positive status.

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  • 6 January 2005 - Mandela’s son dies of AIDS

    Nelson Mandela’s son, Makgatho Lewanika Mandela, dies of AIDS. The Mandela family speaks openly about the cause of his death.

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  • 14 July 2005 – Ronald Louw dies.

    Socialist, pacifist, human rights lawyer and comrade Ronald Louw dies of undetected TB after waiting too long to test for HIV. Louw had been exemplary in almost all aspects of his life, except the fact that he did not get tested for HIV. Central to all his activism was a commitment to equality. This is evidenced by his legal work and his involvement in human rights work, particularly in the areas of lesbian and gay equality, prisoner rights, criminal justice reform and HIV/AIDS prevention, support and treatment work.

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  • 24 October 2005 - TAC demands provincial Department of Health to speak out against Rath

    TAC holds a demonstration outside the Western Cape Provincial Department of Health demanding that the MEC for Health, Pierre Uys, speaks out against the activities of Matthias Rath.

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  • 2 November 2005 - TAC exposes fatalities from an illegal clinical trial by Rath

    TAC investigates and exposes the deaths of five patients, after unauthorised and illegal clinical trials were conducted in Khayelitsha and other areas in the Western Cape by the Rath Foundation. The Department of Health remains silent.

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  • 29 November 2005 - TAC takes the MCC, the National and Provincial Department of Health to court over Rath

    TAC and the South African Medical Association take legal action against the Minister of Health, the Medicines Control Council and the Western Cape MEC for Health for failing to act against the illegal activities of the pharmaceutical proprietor Matthias Rath and his agents.

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  • 8 December 2005 - Lorna Mlofana’s accused found guilty

    The accused in the murder of TAC member Lorna Mlofana in December 2003 are found guilty.

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  • 30 March 2006 - UNGASS Press Conference

    This press conference was called after the TAC and the AIDS Law Project (ALP) learnt that they had been excluded from accreditation in order to attend the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on AIDS (UNGASS) because the South African government had objected to their participation. By objecting to TAC and ALP accreditation the South African government had acted unilaterally and intolerantly. They also conceded that some of the organisations that they had not objected too they had never even heard of.

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  • 23 - 26 April 2006 - International Microbicides Conference

    The first microbicide conference on African soil was held in Cape Town in 2006. Microbicides are substances which can be applied to the vagina or rectum to prevent the sexual transmission of HIV and other STDs. At present, an effective microbicide is not available. The conference also discussed other intervention, such as ABC, Post Exposure Prophylaxis, circumcision and our response to gender violence.

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  • 24 May 2006 - Nozipho Bhengu's funeral

    Nozipho Bhengu's funeral was turned into a political slagging match as eulogies were used to reinforce the Mbeki governments stance of AIDS denialism. Nozipho, who's status her mother courageously disclosed in front of parliment in 2001, was being treated by Tine van der Maas on recommendation of then health minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang.

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  • 22 June 2006 - Government ordered to make treatment available for prisoners

    Durban High Court rules that the government is required to remove any obstacles to accessing ARV treatment at Westville Correctional Centre, to take positive steps to ensure that all prisoners who need ARVs can access them. Government appeals the decision.

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  • 13 - 18 August 2006 - 16th International AIDS Conference - Toronto, Canada

    The 16th International AIDS Conference was held in Toronto, Canada. During the conference the South African government elicited strong criticism on themselves by prominently displaying garlic, beetroot and lemons in the country's stand. With the death of inmate MM back in South Africa on their hands international public opinion drastically turned on them. During the closing session the UN Special Envoy to Africa on HIV/AIDS, Stephen Lewis, accuses the South African government of expounding theories “more worthy of a lunatic fringe than a concerned and compassionate state.”

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  • 22 August 2006 - Senator Obama meets with TAC

    On the 22nd of August 2006 Senator Barack Obama, during a tour of Africa, visited South Africa and met with members of the Treatment Action Campaign in Khayelitsha. He also visited Site B Clinic in Khayelitsha were he saw the work that TAC’s Treatment Literacy Practitioners do on a daily basis in clinics across the country. During the closed session of their meeting TAC members suggested to Senator Obama that he run for president. Obama took a strong position on preventing and treating HIV/AIDS and was critical of the South African government’s response to the epidemic and their disregard and animosity towards the Treatment Action Campaign.

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  • 15 October 2006 - Madlala Routledge calls for consistent HIV messaging

    On a episode of Siyayinqoba Beat It! about Curative Claims, then Deputy Minister of Health, Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge said: "Communication must be consistent. As leaders in government, from the president to the lowest office, we should all be passing the same messages so that we don’t confuse people." Within the context of an episode on curative claims this statement was a criticism of Thabo Mbeki and Manto Tshabalala-Msimang's promotion of HIV denial and quack remedies from charlatans such as Matthias Rath, Zeblon Qwala and Tine van der Maas.

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  • 25 September 2008 - Barbara Hogan appointed as new Minister of Health.

    President Motlanthe appointed Barbara Hogan to the position of Minister of Health. This move by the third democratically elected President of South Africa signalled that government's disastrous approach to HIV/AIDS had ended. Sadly over two million South Africans died of AIDS during the presidency of Thabo Mbeki and the tenure of Tshabalala-Msimang. At least 300,000 deaths could have been avoided had they merely met the most basic constitutional requirements.

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  • 1 December 2009 - World AIDS Day

    The 2009 World AIDS Day events in South Africa showed government committing to treating HIV/AIDS and preventing further infections. Civil society organisations applauded President Jacob Zuma's commitment to start ARV treatment for all HIV positive people with TB when their CD4 count dropped under 350, treat all pregnant HIV positive women with a CD4 count of 350 or lower and to start all pregnant women on PMTCT by 14 weeks.

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