AN estimated 17% of South Africa’s more than 70 000 military personnel were infected with HIV, Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota has announced. Speaking at a media briefing at Parliament, Lekota said the figure came from blood samples taken from South African soldiers taking part in the Operation Blue Crane military exercise with other Southern African countries in September last year. The minister said soldiers tested came from three of South Africa’s nine provinces, but believed that if people in the military from all provinces were tested the percentage would have been lower. Lekota did not identify the three provinces concerned. According to the South African government, 4.2m South Africans are HIV-positive or have AIDS, one in 10 of the population, or one in five adults. – Reuters