Gauteng Premier Mbhazima Shilowa says he does not believe rape victims should be given treatment to prevent HIV infection - because of government policy.
He was speaking in the Gauteng legislature on Tuesday during the tabling of the province's annual report on HIV/Aids, in response to calls for the province to provide the treatment free of charge.
Both ANC legislator Dr Rashid "Ram" Saloojee, who is chairperson of the province's standing committee on health, and DA legislator Jack Bloom had argued in favour of providing the treatment to victims of violent sexual crimes.
Research has shown that treatment can prevent HIV infection if taken within 48 hours.
But government policy stipulates that anti-retroviral treatment will be made available only to health professionals who have needle-stick injuries, on the grounds that the effectiveness of the treatment has not been proved.
This is in spite of the fact that the government medical aid offers treatment to rape victims.
"I respect Dr Saloojee's views with regard to the use of anti-retrovirals, but I don't agree with him," Shilowa said. "Not because I think he's wrong, but because we have a policy in place."