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Seminar on the impact of HIV/AIDS on land reform in KwaZulu-Natal
Hosted by the Southern African Regional Poverty Network and the Centre for HIV/AIDS Networking University of Natal, Durban
Scott Drimie
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Deborah Heustice
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[Briefing note]
[Seminar proceedings]
[Delegates]
[Annexures]
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Seminar proceedings
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3.3. Response from PDLA and PDA
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3.3.1. Response from Mr Sy Nkabinde, Deputy Director, PDLA
Mr Nkabinde stated that as land reform planners the PDLA is supposed to help land reform beneficiaries and communities with HIV/AIDS, but that in practice this is not easy. However, he stressed that they hope to become more equipped and that they will then be able to assist the communities they deal with a great deal more effectively than they are able to at present. He said that part of the problem was that most land reform beneficiaries are in rural communities and are in the age group of 18 years upwards (the high risk category for HIV/AIDS infection). Most of these land reform beneficiaries have dependents—on average 3,4 dependents per beneficiary. This means that 34 000 infected people multiplies to 100 000 affected people; a large number of people to assist. He said a further problem was the lack of HIV/AIDS education for land reform beneficiaries. Talking about HIV/AIDS was still problematic, and people did not attribute illness and death to HIV/AIDS. As a result it was difficult to get a clear indication of which households are infected and Department of Health statistics have to be relied on. Coupled with the low-morale of DLA planners and the very high turnover of provincial staff, the challenge of HIV/AIDS for PDLA seemed immense. Mr Nkabinde felt that there was a need to strengthen the activities of the various sectors working on these issues and there was a need for a support programme for land reform beneficiaries
3.3.2. Response from Dr Iona Stewart, part-time AIDS co-ordinator for PDA
The major problem for the PDA AIDS co-ordinator was the fact that she is not employed full time by the Department of Agriculture and yet there was a need for a concerted effort and attention around HIV/AIDS. Dr Stewart sees her job as educating all levels on Department on AIDS, its effects and impact on food production. She says that for agriculture the priority focus and responsibility has to be increasing food production from the land, so that South Africa can support its population, and AIDS survivors. She says that she relies on the departments of Health and Land Affairs to support other activities that are within their area of expertise.
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