11 May 2000
Yesterday, the AIDS Law Project (ALP) successfully
represented an HIV positive man against workplace discrimination. The
South African Airways (SAA) refused him a job because of his HIV/AIDS status. The South
African Communist Party (SACP) congratulates the ALP for its sterling work and victory.
We call on the SAA and all other employers to revise their
HIV/AIDS workplace policies in line with the Employment Equity
Act. We must urgently stamp out HIV/AIDS discrimination and stigmatisation in the
workplace and society as a whole.
The SACP supports full equality for people living with HIV/AIDS. Yesterday’s victory is the beginning of a long road of struggle against ignorance and discrimination. In this regard, all organisations (political, employers, trade unions, community, students, etc.) have a huge responsibility to educate their members and the rest of society about HIV/AIDS and openness.
The SACP supports an holistic approach to HIV/AIDS which
strongly links awareness, prevention, care, support, treatment,
stigmatisation and discrimination as critical in our response to HIV/AIDS.
CONTACT
Mazibuko K. Jara (surname Jara)
Department of Media, Information & Publicity
South African Communist Party
Tel: 27 11 339-3621/2
Fax: 27 11 339-4244
Cell: 083 651 0271
Email: sacp1@wn.apc.org