Johannesburg — THE Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) wants former president Thabo Mbeki to apologise for his part in the country's HIV/AIDS crisis.

Cosatu president Sdumo Dlamini told reporters yesterday that Mbeki should also lead the country's efforts to curb the disease. "The most honourable thing would be for him to lead the ... campaign. It's the least he can do while he is alive," he said.

Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi said the federation would not support the Young Communist League's call for Mbeki to be charged with genocide, but it had toyed with the idea. "During 2006 and 2007 it did cross our minds - 330000 people died during that period. That is Ellis Park stadium filled six times. That was the scale of the denialism, but we need to move on."

Cosatu often led the fight against Mbeki's handling of the disease, which led to tension in the alliance during his tenure in office. Under President Jacob Zuma 's administration, there has been a remarkable turnaround in the ANC and the government's approach to the crisis.

Yesterday the federation said it was "relieved and so happy" that the new administration was prepared to lead from the front in the fight against the pandemic .

An example of this was Zuma's preparedness to be tested publicly for HIV/AIDS today, on World AIDS Day, Vavi said.

The likelihood of the former president apologising was slim, as he had so far denied any wrongdoing, Vavi said. "He denies ever saying that he questioned the link between HIV and AIDS and that the government did not have a plan to deal with the crisis."

The tripartite alliance has come out in full support of the government's new stance on HIV/AIDS. Zuma is expected to make the new policy on the disease public today. Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has been praised across the board for his proactive approach.

Mbeki's spokesman, Mukoni Ratshitanga, could not be reached for comment.