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The South African National AIDS Council (SANAC)

• Introduction
• Purpose
• Objectives
• Progress to date
• Structure
  • High-level Multisectoral Partnership body
  • Programme Implementation Committee
  • Sectoral Coordinating Committee
• Resources Management Committee (RMC)
• Important dates
• Speeches and statements
• Documents
• Contact details

Introduction

The Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on AIDS was the first high-level political body that was established to oversee the national response to HIV and AIDS. This committee was established at the end of 1997 and was chaired by the then Deputy President, Mr Thabo Mbeki. All ministers and deputy ministers attended committee meetings. The main objectives of the committee were to provide leadership, political oversight and guidance to the HIV and AIDS programme.

The HIV and AIDS epidemic presents South Africans with tremendous challenges. Too many people have been infected. Too many people have died. But if we work together, AIDS can be beaten. South Africa is uniting in its efforts to combat the epidemic and from now on SANAC will embody that unity and purpose.

The South African Government recognises the seriousness of the HIV and AIDS epidemic and its impact to the country. Hence partnerships and joint efforts were noted as critical points in addressing the challenges brought by HIV and AIDS and also reversing the epidemic.

The South African National AIDS Council (SANAC) was formed to strengthen the strong political leadership as well as to ensure inclusion of civil society in the overall response to HIV and AIDS. The Council is composed of both government and civil society organisations.

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Purpose

The South African National AIDS Council is a national body established to oversee and advise government on HIV and AIDS in South Africa.

Objectives

The objectives of SANAC are to:

• advise government on HIV, AIDS and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) policy and strategy, and related matters
• create and strengthen partnerships for an expanded national response to HIV and AIDS in South Africa
• receive and disseminate reports on all sectoral interventions to HIV and AIDS and consider challenges
• oversee continual monitoring and evaluation of all aspects of the National Strategic Plan on HIV & AIDS and STIs (NSP) (2007-2011)

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Progress to date

End of 1997: The Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on AIDS was established as the first high-level political body on AIDS. This Committee was chaired by the then Deputy President, Mr Thabo Mbeki. It provided guidance, leadership and political oversight on HIV and AIDS, and was constituted of the Deputy President and some Ministers and Deputy Ministers. 

January 2000: The South African National AIDS Council was formed, replacing the Inter-Ministerial Committee on AIDS, to further strengthen the strong political leadership as well as to ensure inclusion of the civil society in the overall response to the HIV and AIDS challenge.

Year 2002: SANAC is reviewed. A lot of progress has been made with regard to advocacy, mobilisation (including resources), capacity building and establishment of forums in relation to the country’s strategic plan on HIV, AIDS and tuberculosis (TB).

January 2002: SANAC is appointed the Country Co-ordinating Mechanism (CCM) for South Africa in terms of the Global Fund to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. The CCM co-ordinates the submission of one national proposal for grant funding to the Global Fund and monitors the implementation of activities under Global Fund-approved programmes, including approving major changes in implementation plans .The other roles of the CCM are to review, evaluate and make recommendations on the proposal submitted for funding prior to forwarding the recommendations to the Global Fund

December 2003: SANAC is expanded to include more representation from civil society. Previously unrepresented sectors include the men's sector, academic sector and the children's sector

December 2003: The SANAC Secretariat is strengthened to support the work of SANAC The secretariat’s responsibility is to provide technical, logistical and administrative support to SANAC.

March 2004: SANAC recommends the establishment and appointment of an Executive Management Committee (Exco). Exco ensures that SANAC functions effectively by meeting regularly to implement decisions and respond to urgent matters.

7 May 2006: SANAC decides to conduct an internal review with a view to improve its efficacy. A third term of office begins and civil society nominates new members.

August 2006: SANAC decides to conduct a rapid assessment of implementation of the 2000-2005 strategic plan and decides that the pillars are still relevant. SANAC also decides that the next strategic plan will build on those pillars.

14 & 15 March 2007: National consultation on the National Strategic Plan (NSP 2007 - 2011) takes place

30 April 2007: SANAC convenes an inaugural meeting and adopts 2007 – 2011 HIV, AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections National Strategic Plan (NSP 2007-2011).

11 May 2007: Mr M Heywood is nominated as the first SANAC Deputy Chair from civil society.

2 July 2007: The Resource Management Committee (RMC) is established. The RMC is linked to SANAC and deals with Global Fund issues and it also looks at other opportunities for resource mobilisation to support implementation of the NSP.

16 August 2007: The Programme Implementation Committee is established and conducts its first meeting.

10 September 2007: Mr M Heywood is confirmed as the first deputy chair for SANAC from civil society.

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Structure

The South African National AIDS Council is a three-tier structure:

High-level  

Its aim is to play a leadership role, ensuring consensus is built and maintained on issues of policy and strategy, as well as overseeing overall implementation and review of the National Strategic Plan (NSP) (2007-2011) on HIV and AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), and the National Comprehensive Plan for Management, Treatment and Care of HIV and AIDS for South Africa.

SANAC aims to build commitment and foster relationships that help improve health outcomes for all South Africans. SANAC will also encourage sectors to organise themselves. It will issue progress reports regarding the implementation of the NSP.

The Deputy President of South Africa is the Chairperson of SANAC. The Deputy Chairperson is from civil society.

From Government, membership includes the Ministers who are members of the IMC. While not formally members, the Directors-General of the IMC will be in attendance at meetings of SANAC to support the Ministers. The Department of Health plays a central role in providing advice and support on issues relating to HIV and AIDS policy, and is an ex officio member of all levels of SANAC.

The following government ministries are members of the IMC:

1. Health for the health sector and a lead department
2. Education for the education sector
3. Transport for the economic cluster
4. Minerals and Energy for the mining sector
5. Social Development for the social cluster
6. Public Service and Administration for the governance and administration cluster
7. Correctional Services for the justice cluster

The representation of 17 civil society sectors is through presidents or chairpersons.

The civil society representation is as follows:

The high-level plenary structure of SANAC holds at least two meetings annually.

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Programme Implementation Committee

This is the level where government officials, led by the Directors-General of the social cluster and NGOs, and the Programme Implementation Committee interact to share experiences and exchange views on programme implementation. They identify and resolve challenges arising during the course of implementation and make recommendations to the high-level SANAC. The committee meets at least four times a year and more frequently if necessary.

The structure of Programme Implementation Committee includes the following:

Chairperson: Mr T Mseleku (Director-General of the Department of Health)

Representatives from Government Departments

Department of Health: Dr N Xundu
Department of Public Service and Administration: Dr S Senabe
Department of Social Development: Dr C Kganaga
Department of Education: Ms X Bikitsha
Department of Justice and Constitutional Development: Mr P Manzini
Department of Correctional Services: Mr G Wilson
Department of Minerals & Energy: Ms B Senabe

Representatives from the civil sector

NGOs: Mr S Madi
Children: Ms C Vawda
Youth: Mr P Mohlahledi
Men: Mr S Ramabu
Women: Ms Z Hlatshwayo
Business: Mr B Mears
Religious: Sr A Munro
Sport and entertainment: Mr R Zondi
Labour (Cosatu): Ms J Bodibe
Labour (NACTU): Ms B Modise-Mnisi
Labour (FEDUSA): Ms D Le Roux
PLWA (Napwa): Mr K Sebati
PLHW (TAC): Mr G Mthembu
Higher education: Dr S Asmall
Traditional leaders: Mr A Sithole
Law and human rights: Mr J Berger or Ms N Khumalo
Traditional healers: Mr M Rakauone
Health professionals: Dr A Thulare/ Dr K Letlape
Disability: Ms H Bogopane-Zulu
Academic and research organisations in health: Prof H Rees or Dr J Matjila

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Sectoral Co-ordinating Committee

This level is comprised of seven co-ordinating committees grouped according to the following sectors of the economy:

• Public administration (led by the Department of Public Service and Administration)
• Mining (led by the Department of Minerals and Energy)
• Transport (led by the Department of Transport)
• Agriculture (led by the departments of Agriculture and Land Affairs)
• Community development (led by The Presidency and the Department of Social Development)
• Education (led by the Department of Education)
• Justice (led by the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development)

The main objectives of these committees are to co-ordinate and review implementation of sector-specific programmes. The sectors determine their strategic partners, e.g. the mining sector may want to partner with traditional leaders. The sectors will later expand the mandate of Sectoral committees to include other health related challenges. The co-ordinating sectoral committees reports to SANAC through the Programme and Implementation Committee

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Resource Management Committee (RMC) for Global Fund and other resources

This committee, linked to but separate from SANAC, is appointed to deal with Global Fund matters. The aim of this committee is to:

• co-ordinate the submission of one national proposal for grant funding to Global Fund
• select one or more appropriate organisation(s) as the principal recipient(s) (PR) for Global Fund grants
• monitor the implementation of activities under Global Fund-approved programmes, including approving major changes in implementation plans
• evaluate the performance of these programmes, including a performance review, and submit a request for continued funding prior to the end of the two year period of initially approved financing
• look for other opportunities for resource mobilisation to support implementation of the NSP.

The chairperson of the Resource Management Committee is the Minister of Health. The members are: Minister of Minerals and Energy alternating with Social Development; and Minister of Education alternating with Public Service and Administration.

Nominees of the NGO and CBO, PLHIV, private/business, religious, youth, and academic/ higher education sectors  (one representative per sector).

The RMC meets at least once every three months. The Department of Health as the secretariat for the RMC.

The Resource Management Committee composition is as follows:

Chairperson : Dr M Tshabalala-Msimang
Minister of Public Service and Administration: Ms GJ Fraser-Moleketi
Minister of Education: Ms N Pandor
Minister of Social Development: Dr J Swanson-Jacobs
Minister of Minerals and Energy: Ms BP Sonjica
PLHIV sector (TAC): Mr P Ramothwala
PLHIV sector (NAPWA): Ms S Mtambo
Private/business sector: Dr F Randera
Religious sector: Rev D Lambrecht
Youth sector: Dr N Mqhayi
NGO sector: Mr O Dlamini
Higher education sector: Dr S Asmall
Women sector: Dr N Dinat

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Important dates

• Sexually Transmitted Infections/ Condom Week, 12 –14 February
• World Tuberculosis Day, 24 March
• Candlelight Memorial Day, 21 May
• Partnership against AIDS Anniversary, 9 October
• World AIDS Day, 1 December

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Speeches and statements

• SANAC meeting, 25 November 2009
• Parktonian Minute on 2010 World Cup on Football for Health, HIV and AIDS, 19 November 2009
• SANAC meeting, 31 July 2009
• SANAC meeting, 27 May 2008
• SANAC meeting, 28 November 2007
• SANAC meeting, 10 September 2007
• Message on World Aids Day, 1 December 2006
• SANAC review workshop, 31 October 2006
• SANAC meeting, 7 May 2006
• SANAC meeting, 15 April 2005
• SANAC meeting, 7 October 2004
• SANAC meeting, 19 June 2004
• SANAC meeting, 17 March 2004
• SANAC meeting, 3 November 2003
• Meeting with Treatment Action Campaign, 14 June 2003
• SANAC meeting, 29 March 2003
• Update on SA National AIDS Council, 19 February 2003
• SANAC meeting, 1 February 2003

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Documents

These documents are in PDF format.

• Presentations at SANAC meeting, 27 May 2008
  • SANAC Programme Implementation Committee Report
  • Civil Society Report Back to SANAC Plenary Session
  • Progress with implementation of NSP by Government
• The South Africa Country Coordinating Mechanism Call for Proposals for Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria Round 8, 2 April 2008
• Form 5.3 Summary of detailed budget by objective and service delivery area - HIV, 2 April 2008
• Form 5.3 Summary of detailed budget by objective and service delivery area - Tuberculosis, 2 April 2008
• Global Fund Guidelines for proposals - Round 8, 1 March 2008
• Monitoring and evaluation toolkit, 1 March 2008
• Procedural guidelines, 8 February 2008
• Record of agreement of SANAC restructuring
• National Strategic Plan on HIV, AIDS & STI 2007-2011
• Global Fund Programmes and Projects

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Contact details

• High-level representation [PDF]
• Provincial AIDS Councils [PDF]

The secretariat is located at:
Regus Business Centre
Birchwood Office Park
43 Montrose Avenue (off Bekker Street)
Vorna Valley, Midrand

E-mail: info@sanac.org.za
Tel: 011 655 7000
Website: http://www.sanac.org.za/

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Last modified: 03 December 2009 09:23:11.