Rape survivors are to get anti-retrovirals on demand, and help for more HIV-positive pregnant women is on the way.
The government sent a message of hope to millions on Wednesday by moving to embrace the drugs as a valid form of therapy.
The moves followed a significant shift in policy on several fronts. The government statement followed a circular to hospitals indicating compliance with the Constitutional Court ruling on the provision of nevirapine to HIV-positive mothers-to-be.
If a hospital has the testing and counselling facilities, it is expected to provide nevirapine on the basis of the patient making an informed choice.
The circular and Wednesday night's government statement have been welcomed by activist groups such as the Treatment Action Campaign, the trade union federation Cosatu and opposition political parties.
Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang would not be drawn on whether the government would withdraw its compliance with the court ruling if the court ruled differently at next month's government appeal, but health officials indicated it was unlikely that wider access to nevirapine would be restricted once it had been implemented.
The cabinet announcement, which stopped short of a policy of universal access to anti-retrovirals for all people living with Aids, said the government was preparing the universal rollout of nevirapine for HIV-positive pregnant women from the end of the year, and committed the government to continue to work for cheaper anti-retroviral drugs and programmes to ensure compliance with drug regimens.
"On anti-retroviral treatments in general, the cabinet noted that they could help improve the conditions of people living with Aids if administered at certain stages in the progression of the condition," the government said.
The moves were announced by the government after a cabinet meeting which went on most of the day. The decisions were presented at an after-dark media conference in the Union Buildings following a power failure in the government's communication headquarters in central Pretoria.
The statement, read by Tshabalala-Msimang, said the government called on all South Africans to join hands in a campaign of hope.
"We have it in our power to defeat this epidemic. It is critical that we should work together to achieve the best interests of society."
On the issue of a comprehensive package of care for rape survivors, the government said they would be counselled on the risks of using anti-retrovirals so that they could make an informed choice.
"If they so choose, they will be provided with such drugs in public health institutions," the government said, adding that a "standardised national protocol" would be finalised as soon as possible.
Tshabalala-Msimang was reluctant to stipulate a deadline, but Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology Ben Ngubane said the new regimen for sexual assault victims should be in place within six months.
Tshabalala-Msimang was flanked by Minister in the Presidency Essop Pahad, Minister of Arts, Culture Science and Technology Ben Ngubane, Director-General of Health Ayanda Ntsaluba, chief director of health Nono Simelela, and Government Communication and Information System director Joel Netshitenzhe.
All the officials indicated a new sense of urgency and concern, and appeared to reflect a new mood of hope and commitment.
"The government undertakes to work with a sense of urgency and commitment to defeat this pandemic," Netshitenzhe said. "Society does not have to go into a depression. There is hope if we all work together."
The government also announced a task team on mother-to-child transmission to accelerate the roll-out of nevirapine therapy by having a rigorous and quick system of assessing capacity.
Health officials also stressed the importance of a patient's right to be treated for Aids-related diseases such as tuberculosis and pneumonia, regardless of their HIV status.