NAPWA Expels TAC Members.

GERMISTON, South Africa -- The South African National Association of People Living with HIV and AIDS (NAPWA) expelled fifteen Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) plants from both its leadership and from the organization at its national conference in February. The decision to expel the TAC from its ranks was taken by a unanimous vote of more than 300 delegates from 98 NAPWA branches representing over 300,000 members throughout the country at its Policy Conference held between 18 and 20 February 2005 in Germiston, South Africa.

NAPWA, the biggest, authentic grassroots AIDS organization in South Africa, took this dramatic step after TAC supporters tried hijacking it to align it with the TAC's agenda of uncritically promoting the use of toxic pharmaceutical drugs to the exclusion of side-effect-free, natural treatment approaches to AIDS.

A unanimous resolution was also passed at the conference confirming the reappointment of Nkululeko Nxesi as NAPWA National Director. Nxesi is well respected for his strong standpoint on the crucial primary role of proper nutrition for HIV/AIDS patients, and his awareness of the often devastating side effects of ARVs. "These individuals have been trying to hijack NAPWA to use as a platform for the TAC to push its narrow ARV-based response to AIDS," Nxesi said.

According to NAPWA, after failing to seize control of NAPWA, some of the drug-promoting renegades attempted to destroy the organization by falsely reporting that it was closing down. This led to the head office building being repossessed in November 2004, with the result that NAPWA's activities all but completely stalled. When NAPWA regained occupation of its building in February, it was found that it had been burgled, and twenty computers, office furniture and crucial documents had been stolen.

After the policy conference, expelled members arrived at NAPWA's head office armed with guns, assaulting NAPWA members and staff, and spraying slogans on office walls such as "Kill them," referring to NAPWA's directors. Nxesi has also received anonymous phone calls threatening him with death. Following their violence at NAPWA's office, the hooligans proceeded to the offices of NAPWA's funders and fund managers, Douglas & Velcich, where they toyi-toyied and demanded that NAPWA's funding be cut off. This is in line with the TAC's concerted campaign to destroy NAPWA by alleging misuse of donor funds, which auditors have found to be groundless.

"The TAC's credibility has collapsed with the exposure of its financial ties to pharmaceutical front organizations by the South African Traditional Healers Organization (THO), the Kayelitsha branch of SANCO and the Dr. Rath Health Foundation," Nxesi said. "As a pharmaceutical industry lobby, the TAC has its back to the wall now."

Thanduxolo Doro: NAPWA National Spokesperson