SABCOHA is based in Johannesburg, Gauteng. The organisation has a chairperson (Jackie Tau of Aspen Pharmacare) and two patrons (Justice Edwin Cameron and Prof Bongani Khumalo) and is run by a CEO (Brad Mears) who reports to the Board of Governors. The Board consists of representatives from member companies and other appropriate stakeholders and individuals.

SABCOHA is bound by its Articles of Association, which makes provision for a governing committee of at least five members appointed by the board. The committee’s role is to develop an agenda around business’s response to HIV/AIDS. This committee meets regularly in Johannesburg.

SABCOHA is also active in the Eastern, Western and the Northern Cape.

Gauteng

Researching the impact of HIV on business is a key role of the organisation. The Johannesburg office collaborates with and supports local and international research institutions and projects to this end.

The sharing of information, including formal research and practical workplace experience among its members is another key role of the Johannesburg office. Communication with members and stakeholders takes place via its website, regular meetings, workshops, breakfasts, newsletters, conferences and annual reports.

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Eastern Cape

SABCOHA has been accepted as the private sector representative on the Eastern Cape AIDS Council. After extensive stakeholder discussions in East London and Port Elizabeth, significant progress has been achieved in strengthening and expanding the private sector's involvement in fighting HIV in the province.

Nelson Mandela Metropole Business Coalition against HIV and AIDS

To strengthen the response of business in the Nelson Mandela Metropole, it was agreed that private sector initiatives in Port Elizabeth would fall under the auspices of SABCOHA. Extensive progress was achieved in solidifying relationships with the Nelson Mandela Metropole University, the local and provincial AIDS councils, the National African Federated Chamber of Commerce (NAFCOC) and the Port Elizabeth Regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Workplace Responses: SABCOHA facilitated the development of a strategy for business in the Nelson Mandela Metropole in October 2006. SABCOHA thanks Volkswagen SA for its enthusiastic support for the strategic development process.

As part of this strategy SABCOHA conducted a supply chain development initiative for Volkswagen SA which reached a number of small and medium-sized manufacturers. Further, in partnering with Netty Green, SABCOHA expanded its BizAIDS Programme to reach out to micro enterprises in Port Elizabeth.

With support from the German Development Agency, the foundations were established for the commencement of the General Motors supply chain development initiative, as well as the provision of a technical advisor to SABCOHA.

In early 2007 SABCOHA hosted two peer educator forums in support of the critical interventions made by workplace peer educators. With support from Daimler Chrysler and Volkswagen SA these forums provided a crucial opportunity for peer educators to share experiences and deal with problems common to different workplaces. It also provided an opportunity for peer educators to benefit from the outcomes of research by Prof David Dickinson (from Wits Business School) and the expertise of trainer Linzi Smith.

Northern Cape

At the initiative of BHP Billiton, SABCOHA embarked on a process to consolidate the private sectors response to HIV and AIDS in the Northern Cape. The ultimate aim is to develop a SABCOHA strategy and implementation plan for the Northern Cape Province. This process involves relationship building with stakeholders across all five district municipalities; information gathering to understand needs, gaps and opportunities in service delivery; the inclusion of business representatives at all levels; and appropriate consultation with relevant stakeholders.
 
SABCOHA seeks to identify vulnerable business subsectors and SMME’s 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 cooperation, knowledge sharing and capacity from big business, government and non-profit organisations operating within the province.
 
SABCOHA commenced relationship building and consultation with stakeholders situated mainly within the Frances Baard and Kgalagadi district municipalities in February 2008. A dedicated project facilitator, Liesl, was appointed in May 2008. Visits to the other three districts are currently underway. SABCOHA aims to have its Provincial strategy and plan adopted and initiated by the end of January 2009. Notwithstanding, existing projects e.g. BizAIDS may commence in parallel.

Click here for a presentation on SABCOHA in the Northern Cape:bhp_2_june_2008

For more information contact

Liesel Köstlich, Facilitator: Northern Cape Coalition
Mobile: +27 (0)83 701 9973
Office: +27 (0)11 880 4821 or +27 (0)11 486 0411
Fax: +27 (0)11 880 6084
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

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Western Cape

The fact that many SABCOHA members are based in the Western Cape has led to calls for a greater SABCOHA profile there. To this end SABCOHA hosted an event in August 2007 to begin mobilising business.

With Clem Sunter (Anglo American), the late Dr Ivan Toms (Cape Town City Health) and Sipho Mtati (Treatment Action Campaign) as guest speakers, this event drew significant media profile and led to the holding of a strategic session in November 2006. The outcome of this session was the development of a Western Cape Strategy on HIV and AIDS. SABCOHA thanks Metropolitan for its generous support of this process, particularly the dedication of Nosipiwe Ngxabazi, which has led to better co-ordination of SABCOHA in the Western Cape. Regular meetings and brunches are held, where information is shared and activities are co-ordinated.

Events:

March 2008

Dr Francois Venter, who is a public sector HIV physician in South Africa, spoke to a packed audience at the University of Cape Town (UCT) Graduate School of Business on the topic HIV: Crisis, What crisis? The talk was hosted by SABCOHA and was very well attended.

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