In December 1998, 15 comrades and I stood on the steps of St George's Cathedral in Cape Town to launch the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC). Our purpose was to ensure that government provide antiretroviral drugs to pregnant mothers to prevent HIV transmission. TAC also demanded that drug companies make ARVs affordable to every person living with HIV. At that time one month's ARVs cost between R4 500 and R10 000. Those who could afford it were becoming sick and bought medicines and lived, while poorer people died.
Former president Thabo Mbeki said he did not know anyone with HIV.
