There has been increasing high level support in the response to HIV. A five year National Strategic Plan (2007 – 2011) has been developed with priority action areas in: treatment, care and support; human and legal rights; and monitoring and evaluation and surveillance. A network of South African cities and partners (South African Cities Network) was initiated by the Minister for Provincial and Local Government, nine city municipalities and the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) with the principle purpose of encouraging the exchange of information, experience and best practices on urban development, city management and HIV/AIDS.

AMICAALL activities in South Africa are being implemented in collaboration with the South African Local Government Association (SALGA). The UN AMICAALL Partnership Programme facilitated consultative meetings with SALGA focused on planning and developing an AMICAALL Programme. In 2005, as part of development of the AMICAALL Programme, SALGA hosted a workshop for individuals directly involved in municipal HIV-related work. The workshop focused on local government approaches to HIV and AIDS in South Africa.

During 2006, a series of briefing sessions were held with SALGA, and its membership, as part of efforts to revitalize efforts to expand local government responses to HIV within the framework of AMICAALL. The South Africa Alliance Chapter Declaration on HIV/AIDS, which was issued by mayors in Durban in 2000, was endorsed again in June 2006, with a call for reviving efforts to more actively confront HIV throughout municipalities in South Africa.

Dialogue is currently underway to regenerate the AMICAALL South Africa programme given the scope of interest amongst local authorities.