Marginalized Knowledge: An Agenda for Indigenous Knowledge Development and Integration with Other Forms of Knowledge

Background to the New National Strategic Plan

In 1992 the National Aids Co-ordinating Committee of South Africa (NACOSA) was established. The aim of NACOSA was to develop a National Aids Strategy. In 1994 this strategy was consolidated with the National Aids Plan and was adopted by Government (DoH, 2000). In 1997 the South African National STD/HIV/AIDS Review was conducted. This review indicated that there was a high level of commitment from the Ministry of Health (MoH) to address the problems with regards to HIV. The collaboration between DoH and other sectors was also highlighted. The most important result of this process was the creation of the HIV/AIDS/STD Strategic Plan for South Africa, 2000-2005 (DoH, 2000:11).

By December 2005, no new document was published to follow on the previous Plan. By June 2006, the Deputy Minister of Health, Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge, announced that the new Strategic Plan for 2007 to 2011 will be launched on World Aids Day, 1 December 2006. On this day, the Deputy President of South Africa, Pumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, launched only a broad framework. It was announced that the final Strategic Plan will be launched in March, 2007. On 14 March 2007, the Deputy President again unveiled a broad framework and indicated that the final acceptance of this framework will take place later in 2007 in consultation with all stakeholders.