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Past Issues

February 2005

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N3 Toll Concession (Pty) Ltd

Taking up the fight

The AIDS pandemic will continue to take its toll on the South African economy in 2005 with the economically active population most exposed to HIV infection and therefore at greater risk. This is the prediction of the Actuarial Society of South Africa ("ASSA") whose HIV/AIDS models suggest that approximately 5 million South Africans are currently HIV-positive. Worse, more than 500 000 are living with full-blown AIDS and between 300 000 and 400 000 South Africans would have died of HIV-related illnesses during 2004. 

Indeed, if the ASSA models are to be believed, nearly 19% of people aged between 20 and 64 are HIV-positive. Not only does this represent a significant proportion of the labour market, but this age-band is also the population with the most spending power in the economy. 

Clearly, the present prevalence of HIV/AIDS is of epidemic proportions, highlighting the urgent need for interventions to halt its further spread - especially as the ASSA models estimate that instead of the number of HIV-positive people dropping due to AIDS deaths, anti-retroviral therapy (ART) will allow infected individuals to live longer, thereby increasing the percentage of HIV-positive people at any point. 

The impact of this is, perhaps, even more far reaching for specific sectors of the economy - such as the toll-road infrastructure. Long-haul truck drivers who are HIV-positive are likely to become fatigued more readily than those who are not infected with the virus - and therefore less responsive to stimuli along the road. Likewise, the effects of ART and other medications could influence their natural reflexes and impact negatively on their actions and reactions. The combination could pose additional risks to users of the routes through higher accident and incident rates.

Targeted initiatives
Acknowledging the importance of interventions to reduce the HIV prevalence rate, N3 Toll Concession (Pty) Ltd - which in 1999 entered into a 30-year concession contract with the South African National Roads Agency to operate 418km of the N3 highway between Heidelberg and 
Cedara - has embarked on a number of targeted initiatives.

These are primarily focused on information and education regarding HIV and AIDS in the hope that people will change their behaviour to lead less risky lifestyles; and voluntary counselling and testing ("VCT") which, by knowing their status, empowers people to manage their health optimally. VCT encourages HIV-negative people to remain negative and those who are HIV-positive to adopt a healthier lifestyle.

Medicine of the route
One such initiative, proposed by N3 Toll Concession's socio-economic development partner Zimele Investment Enterprise Company (Pty) Limited, is Ikhambi Lendlela - which means "medicine of the route".

The project, which was launched through a R1 million grant from N3 Toll Concession, aims to ensure route wellness by improving driver competence, medical worthiness, route worthiness, parking facilities, life skills, ethical and moral standards, and empowering communities with whom the drivers interact. With regards to HIV and AIDS in particular, Ikhambi Lendlela focuses on the impact of the epidemic on the availability and ability of drivers of heavy transportation vehicles, as well as the potential transmission of HIV infection to communities along the route.

N3 Toll Concession has also donated funds to The Learning Clinic, which provides educational programmes to members of the Road Freight Association; and regularly supports activities relating to the annual World AIDS' Day (1 December). The establishment of privately operated HIV/AIDS clinics at the truck stops along the route has also been encouraged.

Hope House
At community level, the company has 'adopted' Hope House in Harrismith - a shelter for abandoned babies, the majority of whom are HIV-positive. In addition to corporate social investment funding, employees of N3 Toll Concession collect items required by the home for its residents (such as clothing, food, linen and toys) and volunteer their time to assist in the home's activities and fund-raising projects. 

Tolcon, the construction company contracted to build and maintain the concession operated by N3 Toll Concession, is similarly involved in the fight against HIV and AIDS. The company has conducted education and awareness campaigns among its employees in an effort to highlight the importance of knowing one's HIV status while simultaneously limiting the number of new infections.

As far as possible, access is also provided to appropriate healthcare services and employees who are no longer able to fulfill their current duties as a result of HIV/AIDS are entitled to request a transfer or, ultimately, disability pension. Support for HIV/AIDS projects and programmes also feature in Tolcon's corporate social investment priorities.

Importantly, N3 Toll Concession believes that every corporate organisation in South Africa has an obligation to counter the HIV/AIDS pandemic to the best of its ability. By working together our efforts will be maximised and the overall incidence of infection and disease will be reduced, effectively paving the road to a more prosperous local economy.

Con Roux
Commercial Manager, N3TC