Army chief lashes ruling
South Africa’s army chief has criticised the Pretoria high court for saying it discriminates against people infected with HIV/Aids.
Lashing the court’s decision, army chief Lieutenant-General Solly Shoke said the army was mandated to defend and protect the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, “but to do so this army requires fit and healthy soldiers”.
Shoke was speaking about the “aftermath” of the court ruling at the annual State of the Army media briefing in Thaba Tshwane yesterday. An estimated 23% of the South African National Defence Force is HIV-positive.
The South African Security Forces Union and the Aids Law Project (ALP) turned to the high court to have the SANDF’s policy regarding HIV-infected people set aside.
The court ruled – after the two parties reached an agreement – that the SANDF had six months to formulate a new health classification and testing policy.
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31 Mai 2008 à 12:47 dans
- zsandf (anglais)
