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Economic Crisis: 20 Million in Poverty
The Global Principles try to sensitize corporations to the positive roles they can play wherever they operate. In the case of South Africa, corporations must address its two most pressing crises, widespread poverty and the AIDS pandemic. While the Steering Group was in South Africa widespread reports circulated of basic staples like maize doubling in cost and there was serious concern that poor families would not be able to afford to eat. Anthony Ambrose of the Catholic Bishops' Conference spoke to us about the current economic situation of South Africa's 46 million people: "There are about 20 million South Africans below the poverty level; 4.6 million people have no income at all and 2.7 million people have no homes or shelter."

After working five days on the document, we took a break on Saturday and visited several townships near Pretoria. The townships were 15-20 kilometers away from the urban area where people who have jobs work. One township, Wintervelt, has over half a million people. A mountain separates the township from Pretoria. We drove on the dirt streets through poor areas where unemployment is over 40%. Those that have jobs travel hours in the morning to get to work and hours in the evening to get home late. Housing is simple; many resemble the shacks of Maquiladora workers in the border region of Mexico. We met one woman, Lisbet, on the street. She had been walking for an hour to get to a public phone. She got in our van and rode with us to the telephone. It would take her an hour and a half to walk home after she used the phone. For the poor of this township, apartheid is dead, but the wall of economic and physical separation of their community from a decent standard of living still exists.

For development to touch those South Africans who live below the poverty line, corporations must play a constructive role in partnership with workers, communities, groups in civil society and the government to build sustainable communities. The Bench Marks Foundation and the religious organizations that are its members are working to make this a reality. In addition, these groups, along with labor and other civil society groups, have formed a Basic Income Grant coalition to press the government to provide resources for the poor so they can receive some support to meet their basic needs.

The HIV/AIDS Crisis: "There Were 30 Funerals This Morning"
The unfolding human tragedy of the HIV/AIDS pandemic is hard to imagine. The Steering Group traveled to a township near Pretoria with Rev. Donald Narrowway, an Anglican priest who has seventeen churches under his jurisdiction, many of which are in poor townships. Rev. Narrowway drove us to a cemetery in the township, where he told us that "this morning at 6:00 am I attended a funeral of a person who died with AIDS. There were 30 funerals this morning! I'm attending a lot of funerals these days."

As we drove up to an AIDs hospice, Tumelong, a body was carried by stretcher out the front door. We spoke with Dr. Stephen Carpenter and an aide who takes care of 26 persons dying of AIDS. Dr. Carpenter told us, "This is a high density township with about 600,000 residents. We estimate that about 50,000 have AIDS. We take patients for the last weeks of their lives and try to make them as comfortable as possible and provide spiritual support if they desire it."

Tumelong has received funds from a number of groups including the Anglican Church, Anglo-American Mining Company and the European Union (although that source of funds ended the last day of October.) Now Tumelong is in need of funding to maintain their services. The facility has beds for 26 and a small chapel. It also has a community center for day care and programs for orphans of AIDS victims.

Dr. Carpenter said, "The epidemic is ripping a part the community. We have started a home care program to keep patients in their homes as long as possible. Churches donate food and we distribute it to the families. Often the person with AIDs is the only one earning an income. We run a program for AIDS orphans because so many children have lost their parents. And the government is still vacillating. But more and more communities are doing something to address the epidemic."

Where One in Four is HIV Positive
During its trip, the Steering Group also met with Thami Skenjanne, Director of AIDS Programs in the Government's Ministry of Health. Ms. Skenjanne told the Group that one in four South Africans is HIV positive. Her department has developed some innovative programs of education that she has taken to large and small communities throughout South Africa. The focus has been on prevention and testing. Ms. Skenjanne had just come back from a meeting with a group of tribal chiefs who have agreed to help educate their constituencies about the disease and how it is contracted.

While the South African government's policy has been criticized for not recognizing the extent of the crisis and not mobilizing resources to address it, Ms. Skenjanne said that the government now has given her program the resources it needs, and the government will begin to provide antiretrovirols for AIDS patients in government hospitals.

Corporate HIV/AIDS Guidelines in the Global Principles
The 1998 edition of the Global Principles had not addressed the HIV/AIDS crisis, and so during the trip the Steering Group began to discuss the issue focusing on what corporations should provide. The group affirmed that:

· "The company subscribes to the principle that every worker has the right of access to health care, including accessible and affordable medicines.
· Where governments do not provide universal health coverage, the company provides adequate coverage for its employees and their dependents. This includes necessary essential medicines, including antiretrovirals for HIV/AIDS.

Not only must governments do more to combat the AIDS pandemic, but corporations must also address the crisis by including health coverage for employees and their dependents and taking specific actions to overcome discrimination and stigmatization of employees with HIV/AIDS.

Dr. Molefe Tsele, executive director of the South African Council of Churches challenged the Steering Group to participate in the creation of equal partnerships, "between business and social activists, between civil society and governments and between North and South." The Global Principles Project has taken an important step by forging partnerships between Northern and Southern groups. This partnership is a hopeful development as we work together for a more just and equitable world.

Note: The third edition of the Global Principles will published in early 2003.

What You Can Do: HIV-Related Programs in Southern Africa Needing Aid
Needs range from access to pharmaceuticals, to blankets, doctors and nurses. Please contact each program directly to see how you can help.

SINOSIZO Home Care Programme
Email: itowell@iafrica.com

Ekukhanyeni AIDS Hospice
P.O. Box 27, Verulam, 4340 RSA

Mater Africa Hospice
P.O. Box 225, Camperdown, 3720 RSA

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