HIV-Positive Soldiers Allow to Service in SA

A Special Report by Danstan Kaunda in Johannesburg, South Africa

South African government has approved a new HIV and AIDS policy that will allow people living with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, to be recruited and deployed on military operations of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).

But critics say this move by government and other SA’s AIDS lobby groups will weaken the operational effectiveness of the country’s defence force.

Helmoed Heitman, a defence analyst, told the Business Day newspaper of South Africa that the government decision is a mistake.

“There seems to be no understanding among our political leaders, and others, that the armed forces are not like a municipality or a supermarket company. Solders and their units have to be able to function under extreme conditions that the rest of us simply do not encounter,” says Heitman.

He adds that, “Military personnel were at risk of being wounded and were also expected to provide immediate aid to a wounded colleague. It is primarily these factors that make HIV an issue that goes somewhat beyond any individual health assessment.” 

The new AIDS guidelines issued by government last week outlaws discrimination against solders and aspiring recruits on the basis of their HIV status.

And the South African Security Forces Union (Sasfu) had argued that the old policy excluded HIV-positive person from being recruited, being deployed outside the borders of South Africa, and receiving advanced training.

Foreign deployment under the United National (UN) peace-keeping mission is much sought after by solders because it allows them to earn higher pay. South Africa has some boots-on-the-ground in Sudan, Democratic of Republic of Congo and Burundi.

Sasfu president Bheki Mvovo welcomed the government’s decision, saying: “it’s a triumph for human rights in the defence force.”

South Africa has one of the world’s heaviest HIV caseloads and has been accused by activities of dragging its feet on the disease which kills an estimated 1000 people every day.

And according to the Lancet Medical Journal, South Africa forms 0, 7 percent of global population, yet carries 17 percent of the HIV burden.

Meanwhile, two Zambian servicemen have taken government to court following their discharge from the Zambia Army Service after tested positive to HIV.