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The HIV/AIDS crisis in South Africa will shake all of Africa, suggests a commentary to be published in next week's Lancet.
Jerome Singh of the Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa says the country's expected population decline as a result of AIDS will dramatically affect its role as investor and peacekeeper on the continent.
Agence France-Presse quoted Singh as saying: "Countries should begin planning how they will cope with decreased South African aid and investment, should such a scenario materialise because of AIDS."
Singh's argument is based on the latest UN figures, which say around 5.3 million people in South Africa have HIV or AIDS, the highest of any country in the world.
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