Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2006. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
South African Press Association - September 18, 2006
"We very much want to meet the inter-ministerial committee and the deputy president [Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, who is leading the committee]," Geffen said.
He said the TAC had sent requests to the government to meet and discuss its comprehensive plan to fight the pandemic.
"We hope this time they will respond positively," Geffen said.
On Thursday, the committee decided at its first meeting to mend relations with bodies critical of the government's plan to fight HIV and Aids.
The meeting, which was chaired by Mlambo-Ngcuka, agreed to meet all organisations who are fighting the scourge, including the TAC and the National Association of People Living with HIV/Aids (Napwa).
"... the deputy president's office will take steps to ensure that there is interaction with all other players in the country who have a meaningful contribution to make in the fight against HIV and Aids," government spokesperson Themba Maseko said on Saturday.
"The meeting underscored the need to take concrete steps to mend relations and raise the level of interaction between government and stakeholder groupings," he said in a statement.
Maseko said a number of organisations, including Napwa and the TAC, have expressed interest in meeting government officials to discuss the comprehensive plan on HIV/Aids.
"Such meetings will take place in the first instance with senior government officials at the level of directors-general prior to meetings with the deputy president and members of the inter-ministerial committee.
"These meetings will help create a conducive environment for constructive interaction between government and the various players, and will go a long way towards clearing the misunderstandings that have existed in the sector."
On Monday, Maseko said the committee was made up of five ministries: health, education, social development, the presidency, and provincial and local government. It could be expanded in future.
The committee was re-established by a Cabinet decision.
The IMC meeting talked about ways in which the government could improve co-ordination of carrying out its plan to fight HIV and Aids, Maseko said.
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