Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2002. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
South African Press Association (Johannesburg) - July 23, 2002
However, South African first lady Zanele Mbeki did not attend the event, presidential spokesman Bheki Khumalo told Sapa.
Asked why she was not present, he replied: "I am not a spokesman of Mrs Mbeki."
He referred Sapa to her assistant, who was not available for comment. Patricia Shanil Muluzi of Malawi will represent Southern Africa on the organisation's steering committee.
Dominique DeSantis of UN Aids said Mrs Mbeki was invited, but she sent Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang instead.
The body will focus on women, children and youth living with HIV/Aids.
"We are proud of what we achieved here in Geneva and we are now accountable for what we promised our people. We will not fail them," said Gabon first lady Edith Lucie Bongo, president of the new organisation.
The steering committee will be represented by first ladies from each of the five sub-regions of Africa.
They are: Muluzi of Malawi, Bongo of Gabon (Central Africa), Theresa Kufuor of Ghana (West Africa), Aicha Mint Ahmed Tolba of Mauritania (Northern Africa) and Jeanette Kagame of Rwanda (Eastern Africa).
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