SABCOHA has from the outset shown support for the government’s strategy on combating HIV/AIDS, STIs and TB and plays a key role in the revived South African National AIDS Council (SANAC). The partnerships it has formed with two provincial governments – the Gauteng and Eastern Cape governments - have been mutually beneficial. SABCOHA also partners the Department of Health in its condom distribution programme.

Eastern Cape government

SABCOHA has partnered with the Eastern Cape government, the Eastern Cape Development Corporation, the Automotive Industry Development Corporation, InWEnt and VWSA in implementing HIV/AIDS strategies in the motor, construction and agricultural industries. SABCOHA is partnering VWSA in a supply chain project setting up HIV/AIDS programmes in seven automative component suppliers to VWSA. SABCOHA has also signed a memorandum of understanding with the Automotive Industry Development Centre to maximise the roll-out of HIV/AIDS programmes to companies in the automative industry.

Gauteng government

The Gauteng government’s Multi-sectoral AIDS Unit has sought to mobilise the whole community in HIV/AIDS prevention and care. A Memorandum of Understanding between the Gauteng government, unions and SABCOHA to formalise co-operation between all parties on workplace HIV/AIDS responses, is in the offing. The intention is to share expertise and increase links between workplace programmes and the communities in which employees live, where similar services are required. SABCOHA, which is represented on the Gauteng Aids Council, has worked hand-in-hand with the provincial government, as well as with trade unions, to help with the practical implementation of workplace programmes to lessen the impact of AIDS on businesses, small and medium enterprises and government. A Workplace AIDS Indaba, held in May 2005, brought together SABCOHA representatives, union federations and the International Labour Organisation, among other players, to share information and chart a way forward.

Khomanani

SABCOHA’s partnership with Khomanani – a wide-ranging communication campaign led by government – was highly successful in motivating businesses to come on board in the fight against HIV/AIDS. The partnership, formalised in the middle of 2005, facilitates co-operation between individual businesses and government. It was effectively an extension of Khomanani into the business community.

Khomanani Excellence Awards: The awards paid tribute to those community workers, health workers and businesses making outstanding contributions in the field of HIV/AIDS. In 2005 SABCOHA sponsored the business category of the awards. Two awards were given – one for small and medium-sized businesses and the other for large companies. Anglo Platinum won the large company award (BMW, Standard Bank, De Beers and Sasol were finalists) and St Leger & Viney won in the small business category. SABCOHA was intent on creating a special category to mobilise smaller businesses which – hard-pressed to find the time and money and yet with less capacity to resist the consequences of HIV/AIDS in their workforces - are lagging behind in putting HIV/AIDS programs in place.

South African National AIDS Council (SANAC)

SABCOHA continues to play a key role in the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC) as the business sector representative on the council. SANAC, comprised of government and civil sector representatives, is the co-ordinating body through which resources from the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and malaria are channelled. SABCOHA strives to play a supportive role at all times to the council.

Click here to read more about SANAC