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) - August 1, 2002
On Monday, Mandela formally requested a meeting with his successor on the matter.
This followed Mandela's weekend talks with Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) leader Zackie Achmat, who is refusing to take the potentially life-saving drugs until the government supplies the drugs to all who need them.
On Thursday, Mandela's spokeswoman Zelda le Grange told Sapa: "We are still trying to find a suitable date (for the meeting).
Both Madiba and the president are very busy, so it's quite difficult."
Mbeki's spokesman Bheki Khumalo also said he was not aware of any agreed date.
After meeting Achmat at the weekend, Mandela said he understood Achmat's position and thought he had "a case" to take to Mbeki.
Mandela said he supported the government's stance that research into anti-retroviral drugs in an African context was necessary to ensure that if there was a roll-out, it would be safe.
"But of course what worries everybody is the number of people who are dying almost daily," he said.
The TAC's campaign for anti-retroviral treatment follows its Constitutional Court victory over the government on the prophylactic use of the drugs to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission.
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