<P> The South African branch of the company Daimler - Chrysler estimated that in 2002 expenses related to HIV / AIDS were equivalent to 4% of all its salaries in South Africa . A study done in 2000 by South Africa's second largest company, Sasol, indicated that 15% of its local workforce was HIV positive, of which 11% had AIDS . According to the CEO of South Africa's largest company, SAB Miller, the cost of HIV / AIDS include costs associated with increased absenteeism, reduced productivity, increased turnover, and healthcare costs . </P> <P> HIV / AIDS poses a real threat to South Africa's political structure . HIV / AIDS creates instability throughout a country, especially in the government and those in power . The disease can cause conflict and / or thrives in it . This fact has increasingly dangerous effects on economies and governments, which can lead to failing states . Failing states are often a hotbed for terrorism . Colin McInnes says in an International Affairs article that the mid 90s - beginning of the century was "marked by examples of failing states creating problems for international security, while in the wake of 9 / II a link was drawn between failing states and international terrorism, notably by the Bush administration in the United States". The effects are not immediate as well, they linger as people get sicker and sicker and keep dying . A journal article by Robert Ostergard even says that people in the highest government positions are being brought down by the disease . He reports that "President Mugabe of Zimbabwe has admitted that three of his cabinet - level ministers have died from AIDS". When this happens (and it is more than likely happening in governments all over Africa), the policy making is disrupted and decision making is inconsistent . As bodies pile up, governments, militaries, communities, healthcare systems, and infrastructures crumble . </P> <P> HIV / AIDS is also a military threat, and not just a healthcare crisis, because "it has become an' accepted assumption...that the rates of HIV are higher among the military and other uniformed forces than among the general population". It has been reported that at one point in time, military members were between 2 - 3 and 2 - 5 times more likely to be infected than the general population . These numbers rise even further during times of conflict . One of the main reasons that has been attributed to this group being affected more is that the military is composed mostly of sexually active 15 - 24 year olds, which is the demographic most at risk of contracting the disease . Drugs, peer pressure, and access to sex workers compounds the danger of contracting HIV / AIDS, while rape as a weapon of terror also spreads HIV / AIDS . This threatens national security because of a host of issues: "Flight times in African militaries have been significantly affected because crew have been too ill to fly; there is concern that soldiers may be wary of helping comrades with blood injuries in combat through fear of infection; and unit cohesion may suffer if some members are HIV - positive and others are not . The high rate of infection among the officer corps and NCOs will not only affect leadership and experience, but may mean the loss of informal networks crucial to the efficient operation of complex institutions such as the military". </P> <P> These effects of HIV / AIDS on military forces make an already unstable region even weaker . </P>

Five reasons for the high rate of hiv and aids in south africa