Infighting and accusations of racism have split one of the country’s most influential Aids groups. At the beginning of March 10 prominent people with HIV/Aids sent a letter to the National Association of People Living with Aids (Napwa) expressing dissatisfaction with the disdain the group has shown for other Aids organisations.
The open letter says Napwa commonly attacks HIV/Aids organisations or campaigns that do not seek the group’s endorsement. “This is part of a pattern, where Napwa attacks any campaign or programme that does not have its permission.”
Napwa has condemned Gail Johnson — mother of Nkosi Johnson — Sparrows Nest Hospice, the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) and individuals with HIV/Aids.
“These attacks suggest uncomfortable overtones of racism and misrepresentation,” the letter says.
Signed by current and former members of Napwa, as well as members of the Positive Women’s Network, the Circle of Life and Judge Edwin Cameron, the letter says Napwa represents a large portion of society and should demonstrate that it has adequate financial controls, that it is dedicated to basic democratic principles and that it advocate causes advancing the interests of people with HIV/Aids.
The letter alleges that Napwa has not been accountable to its members about its finances. It calls on Napwa to open its financial books for perusal and lists documents that it wants the group to release. These include details of its staff’s salaries and projects on which it is working.
“We urge other people and organisations, including funders of Napwa, to request similar information.”
Vuyani Jacobs, the TAC’s labour co-ordinator, says: “Napwa needs to open up their finances. Most of Napwa’s provinces are alienated from the management of Napwa.”
He says members do not know what decisions are made at the national offices. “South Africa needs Napwa, but it must be a democratic and accountable organisation. We need an investigation of where Napwa’s finances are going.”
Napwa recently distanced itself from the TAC, saying it was not part of the “prevention and treatment plan” that arose from negotiations involving the government, business, the TAC and the Congress of South African Trade Unions.
“Therefore Napwa is not part of the call for the signing of this document by government and business. Not only are we not happy about the process, but [we are] not happy with the content of this document,” said Napwa spokesperson Thanduxolo Doro.
The group slammed the TAC for focusing on the provision of anti-retroviral medicines. “The TAC in so doing is disregarding the real issues of people living with HIV/Aids as experienced by Africans in rural villages, informal settlements and townships of South Africa.” Napwa prioritises nutrition and access to other treatment above anti-retroviral treatment.
Sandile Zondani, a Napwa member in Port Elizabeth who signed the letter, says: “We were told that a decision was taken at a Napwa conference that members should not attend the TAC march,” he said. Zondani and other members in Port Elizabeth defied the instruction and attended the march.
He says Napwa then marginalised them and “suspended our provincial coordinator”.
“I see people dying every day who have food and money but no treatment,” says Zondani. He says the TAC fights for the rights of all people with HIV to have access to affordable anti-retroviral drugs.
Zondani says Napwa is supposed to be non-aligned and apolitical. “We should stand up with all people who are fighting against this disease. This is a democratic country and we should be allowed to be affiliated with all HIV/Aids organisations.”
Napwa says the TAC leadership is window-dressed with a few Africans “who cannot say or do anything without first asking their national chairperson [Zackie Achmat]”. It accuses the TAC of being out of touch with rural areas because its members are an elite group from the urban areas of Gauteng and the Western Cape.
Napwa has called on the government not to take the TAC seriously.
“Napwa also calls on the TAC to stop using Africans for their selfish ends. The TAC must stop playing on the emotions of newly diagnosed Africans by claiming that these anti-retroviral drugs are a cure. There is no cure for HIV and Aids. The fact is, without food the anti-retroviral drugs are more of a poison than anything else.”
But Nonhlanhla Kubeka, a TAC volunteer and former Napwa member, says she was used and discarded by Napwa. “I volunteered for Napwa for seven years and in the end I got thrown out.” She says she was perceived to be affiliated with the TAC and therefore did not get a job at Napwa’s office in Gauteng.
“Even if I am a Napwa member I still need treatment; the TAC is fighting for this treatment,” she says.
Doro says Napwa is accountable to its donors and members and have annual audited financial statements. He emphasised that Napwa is independent from the government, despite receiving funds based on submitted business plans.