The South African National AIDS Council (SANAC) has welcomed the latest arrest of two health officials and a Clinic Committee Member who were allegedly caught stealing antiretroviral drugs in Virginia in the Free State.
Two men were also arrested for not only possessing ARV's but also explosives.
SANAC says the officials, aged 43, 51 and 52 were arrested at a clinic in Meloding with 383 bottles of anti-retroviral tablets.
The Council said they would engage with the Department of Health and all relevant stakeholders in ensuring that security in public health facilities is tightened.
They said they are also aware of the fact that ARV's are often used to manufacture illegal drugs to be sold on the Black Market.
Free State police spokesperson Brigadier Motantsi Makhele says the five are expected to appear in the Virginia Magistrates court on Friday.
He says a 24-year-old student was also arrested at a shopping centre in Welkom on Thursday after a backpack full of ARV's was found in his possession.
This brings the total to 15 people arrested for suspected stolen property under the Medicine Act 101of 1965
The ten men and five women were all arrested in the Free State.
