But much of the project's work is devoted to individual cases of discrimination. In one case, the project is suing South African Airways on behalf of an HIV-positive client who was denied a job due to the company's policy of mandatory HIV testing as a condition of employment for cabin attendants. The law project also has several civil medical malpractice suits heading to court in the coming months. One sues a doctor over the physician's failure to gain a patient's consent prior to testing, then withholding the results. Similarly, three other cases challenge the South African military's policy of mandatory testing prior to service.
Insurance poses a special challenge.
A 1988 law made it legal for companies to deny coverage to HIV-positive workers. The insurance question is critical in South Africa because banks require life coverage for anyone seeking a mortgage. Heywood and his lawyers have been lobbying banks to change that policy, and have sought ways around it in negotiated deals between their clients and individual bankers. Gugu Dlamini was fatally assaulted last November on the evening after she revealed her status. Four men were eventually arrested for the attack, but prosecutors dropped the charges in August, saying they lacked sufficient evidence to prosecute.