HIV/AIDS in the South African construction industry: understanding the HIV/AIDS discourse for a sector‐specific response

Abstract

HIV/AIDS is a pandemic with serious implications for South Africa in general, and the South African construction industry in particular. It is the single largest cause of death in South Africa. Against a backdrop of an acute shortage of housing and infrastructure provision, the prevalence of HIV/AIDS among construction workers is impacting negatively on the delivery capacity of the industry. The construction sector is uniquely vulnerable to the pandemic but there is limited industry‐specific research available. Industry‐specific interventions are limited to ‘awareness’ initiatives at project level. Political ambivalence is a major stumbling block. The institutional audit methodology is used to examine the impact of HIV/AIDS on the construction industry as a whole. This examination is conducted within the prevailing political context within which the industry operates. The construction sector urgently needs to develop mechanisms to manage the impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic so that anticipated industry growth is not compromised by the economic, systemic and social impacts of the disease. In South Africa, the CIDB should provide more effective leadership; legislation is required to compel the universal adoption of HIV/AIDS programmes; and a change is needed in the mindset of key role players in the construction industry.