Chester Makana

Chester Makana

Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka has urged traditional leaders to play a role in the battle against HIV-Aids.

Mlambo-Ngcuka said this last week when addressing residents of Dzimauli, Limpopo. She was a guest of the National House of Traditional Leaders.

She said the battle against HIV-Aids could not be won if traditional leaders are left out of strategies to fight Aids.

Last week, the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) reportedly said South Africa is losing the fight against HIV-Aids. Unicef claims that more than five million people now live with HIV-Aids in South Africa. When asked if Unicef's report was correct, Mlambo-Ngcuka dispelled the claim saying " we are not losing, we are on track".

Mlambo-Ngcuka said dealing with HIV-Aids depended on every citizen taking a personal decision to fight the scourge.

She urged those who are already affected not to infect themselves again by spreading the disease.

"In countries where people are winning the battle against HIV-Aids, young people delay their first sexual experience.

"You must never have sex without protection," she stressed.