With funding from BHP Billiton Manganese, SABCOHA has embarked on a project to develop an integrated private sector strategy on HIV and AIDS for Northern Cape and to establish a Northern Cape Business Coalition to oversee the implementation of the strategy and framework.

SABCOHA engaged in preliminary consultations with various stakeholders in February and April 2008 to confirm support for the envisaged project. More extensive consultations with stakeholders took place in May and June.

Brad Mears, the CEO of SABCOHA, said: "SABCOHA seeks to identify vulnerable business sub-sectors and SMMEs within the Northern Cape to which existing projects and programmes can be aligned or opportunities for expansion in partnership pursued. The success of this process depends upon the co-operation, knowledge sharing and capacity from big business, the government and non-profit organisations operating within the province."

A Northern Cape private sector conference is being planned for November 2008, and a national advisory committee and a provincial steering committee are being established to support this process. 

 "We aim to have the provincial strategy and plan adopted and initiated by the end of January 2009. However, existing SABCOHA projects such as BizAIDS may commence in parallel," Mears said.

Supporting objectives on the project include:

• Contributing positively towards the government's policy objectives, needs and challenges.
• Strengthening the private sector's participation on provincial and district multi-sectoral AIDS councils.
• Enabling consolidated reporting by the private sector at various levels.
• Identifying opportunities for business to support the needs of vulnerable industries and sub-sectors.
• Promoting public-private partnerships in implementation.

A list of the stakeholders that have been consulted and the sites and projects that have been visited to date is attached. Click here to view this document: ncapelist (Word). In summary, these included:

• 14 companies and/or independent operations.
• Nine organisations representing private sector members/clients and one independent business leader.
• Municipalities, government departments and government officials at provincial, district and local levels.
• Seven government antiretroviral treatment sites, three government assessments sites and one PPP clinic.
• 15 NGOs rendering HIV-related services, several private-sector initiated projects and three prominent consulting companies.

Meetings attended include:

• Kgalagadi District AIDS Council meeting chaired by Executive Mayor Sarah Mereeotlhe, held on 21 May 2008.
• Provincial Stakeholder Consultative Conference, held on 30 and 31 May 2008 and convened by the premier.
• Crime Prevention Unit meeting, held in Kimberley on 23 June 2008 and chaired by Judge Steenkamp.

Liesel Köstlich, the facilitator of the Northern Cape Coalition, said: "The information gathered during these consultations is being consolidated to inform the private sector strategy development process. Follow-up telephonic consultations with individuals and/or organisations, especially those not available during scheduled visits, will be made over the next few months."

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Related information:

Click here to read more about SABCOHA'S provincial business responses: