Facing a merciless enemy: HIV/AIDS and the South African armed forces

The impact of HIV/AIDS on health, development, and security is nowhere more daunting than in southern Africa, where many claim that it has the potential to destabilize the entire region. In this article, the impact of HIV/AIDS on southern Africa, the factors contributing to the rapid spread of the disease, and how it is affecting the armed forces are highlighted. As an important regional economic and military power, how South Africa and more specifically, the South African armed forces manage the impact of the disease is of national and regional, if not global, concern. The various policy, human rights, human resources, health, and educational challenges facing the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) are discussed with specific reference to its impact on operational capacity and capability. Should the SANDF be unable to manage the disease efficiently, there may be a profound effect on peace and stability in the entire region.