The following paper focuses upon the crises and challenge facing all South Mricans as the AIDS pandemic escalates. Itbriefly discusses the broader implications of the pandemic for the economic and social well-being of the South African population at large, and then attends to issues associated with the counselling of persons living with mv, the counselling of counsellors and the counselling of the survivors of families and groups affected by AIDS-related deaths. The paper first distinguishes between reality-based concerns and transference responses for persons with HN, and suggests that counselling these persons is supportive rather than dynamic in its focus. Thereafter various countertransference responses are identified. The paper suggests that counsellors will themselves require counselling and support if their continued involvement in the counselling and care of persons with mv is to be assured. Finally, the possibility of large scale delayed and complicated grief reactions among the population at large, as a result of multiple and continuous losses of friends and family to AIDS-related deaths, is addressed. The paper evaluates possible intervention strategies for dealing with the pandemic and argues that while education programmes are laudable, more emphasis will need to be placed upon dealing with the crisis at hand. The training of counsellors and caregivers, as well as bereavement counselling of the population at large will thus need to take priority. The paper concludes that while AIDS is a devastating and tragic pandemic that will affect all levels of our society, the pandemic also offers an opportunity to rebuild and reintegrate South Africa's shattered 'community of communities'.
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