Jongamazizi Sibaca was a volunteer and was trained as a youth counselor at the tertiary education level. He organized a number of HIV awareness conferences including the Beyond Awareness Conference, where he represented his institution, Natal Technikon (now Durban Institute of Technology). He is currently involved in the Sonke Project – an NGO that deals with youth development.

The Government of South Africa has a National Strategic Plan (2000-2005) for HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections. The Plan focuses on facilitating and supporting behavioral change. Development efforts are being seriously hampered by the high prevalence of HIV (estimated at about 20 per cent among the general population and one third of pregnant women), which is expected to cut average age life expectancy from 56.5 to 40 years by 2010. Persons under the age of 20 constitute 44 per cent of the national population of over 44 million people. High unemployment and violence have increased their vulnerability to HIV. Most at risk are black female youths. In 2000, approximately 23 per cent of young people under age 24 were reported as being HIV-positive.

With regards to HIV prevention, the UNFPA Country Program has proposed a national programme with the goal to contribute to improvements in the quality of life of the South African people through reducing the prevalence of HIV; improving reproductive health and respect for reproductive rights; enhancing gender equality and equity, particularly among youth; and achieving population trends commensurate with social and economic development. Sub-programmes will focus on reproductive health, population and development strategies, and advocacy. Gender concerns, HIV prevention, capacity building, and information, education and communication (IEC) would be incorporated into each sub-programme.

In light of the high level of adolescent pregnancy and the high prevalence rates and risks of transmission of STIs, including HIV, the major strategy is to play a leading role in the promotion of expanded quality reproductive health and preventive services geared particularly towards adolescents and youth. In addition to supportive IEC methods to promote attitudinal and behavioral change, the sub-programme will promote dual contraception, the provision of adolescent- and youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health services, and voluntary counselling and testing for HIV.

http://www.unfpa.org/profile/southafrica.cfm?Section=1
http://www.unfpa.org/africa/s_africa/1saf0206.doc