Sandile died a few weeks ago. Although he was on antiretroviral medication for HIV, he had started treatment late and his body could not rally the energy to fight the tuberculosis that preyed on his weak immune system.

In 2010 the World Health Organisation (WHO) changed the HIV treatment guidelines for poor countries and recommended switching from stavudine (D4T) to tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) for all patients on first line treatment. OPINION by Vuyiseka Dubula (Quackdown)

Due to several concerns with the antiretroviral tender, the Treatment Action Campaign and MSF last week sent a joint letter to the Minister of Health Dr Aaron Motsoaledi.