CAPE TOWN, South Africa, Feb. 23 (Xinhuanet) -- South African Finance Minister Trevor Manuel announced on Wednesday to increase budget for fighting HIV/AIDS in the coming year to some 4.3 billion rand (741 million US dollars), a rise of about one billion rand over current spending.

    The increase was in line with medium-term expenditure framework projections, Manuel said while delivering his 2005 budget to the National Assembly, adding that 1.8 billion rand of this year's amount is earmarked as conditional grants to the provinces in health, social development and education.

    It also included an increase in condom distribution, seen by the South African government as a major method to help block the spread of HIV/AIDS, which is believed to have plagued some five million South Africans in a population of 46 million.

    "The number of free condoms the government intends handing out in the coming financial year in the fight against AIDS will approach half a billion," said a report of the SAPA news agency.

    The Health Department plans to distribute over 360 million condoms in the current year, or over 30 million a month, it said.

    Manuel's HIV/AIDS budget drew mixed reaction among anti-AIDS groups and opposition parties.

    The Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) said it was happy with the amount Manuel set aside for HIV/AIDS but worried about whether it would be spent properly.

    "Our preliminary view is that we are happy with the amount that Trevor set aside but the real challenge is to see if the money is spent properly," SAPA quoted TAC spokesman Nathan Geffen as saying. Enditem