The AIDS Foundation of South Africa (AFSA) was established by group of activists in Cape Town, many of whom had lost partners, family members and loved ones to AIDS. AFSA was set-up to create a legal entity that could raise and distribute funding to finance HIV/AIDS education and care projects.

AFSA exists to contribute towards an integrated HIV/AIDS response in vulnerable communities in South Africa enabling them to implement appropriate and effective interventions to limit new infections and mitigate the impact of the epidemic; resulting in reduced HIV prevalence and the amelioration of its effects.