Govt's HIV strategy to be challenged in court

Zackie Achmat says they will be back in court in two weeks' time

Aids activists say they plan to take the government to court again over its HIV strategy. The Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) says the sacking of a deputy health minister Nozizwe Madlala-Routlege has caused panic and fear among HIV/Aids sufferers.

TAC chairperson Zackie Achmat says they will be back in court in two weeks' time. He says they want the court to force the health department to let health facilities across South Africa introduce a dual drug therapy regimen in its programmes.

The therapy is aimed at preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV. So far, only the Western Cape is authorised to provide the therapy. The TAC won a Constitutional Court judgement in 2002, forcing the government to provide anti Aids drugs in state hospitals.

It is understood that students at the University of Cape Town have signed a petition making rounds in Cape Town, asking President Thabo Mbeki to reinstate Madlala-Routlidge.