South Africans must change their sexual practices and accept responsibility in stopping the spread of HIV, Democratic Alliance leader Hellen Zille said on Sunday.
“We must begin by challenging the pre-modern notion that unprotected sex with multiple, intergenerational concurrent sexual partners are a cultural right. It is not,” Zille said in a statement.
Zille said these sexual practices “wreak social devastation”.
“It drives the teenage pregnancy rate, entrenches poverty, spreads disease, destroys families, produces unwanted and neglected children.”
“It is this attitude that puts so many women and men at risk. It is this attitude that costs South Africa billions of rands each year. And it is this attitude that must change,” she said.
The DA leader said SA should put more responsibility on individuals instead of focusing on condom distribution and free treatment.
“I also believe it is fair to require everyone to take a regular HIV test [free] and accept responsibility for preventing risk to others.”
Zille said that those who fail to take-on this responsibility should be “prepared to face criminal charges”. — Sapa