Aids activists in South Africa said the condoms leaked
Aids activists in South Africa said the condoms leaked Reuters

South Africa's health authorities have recalled more than a million faulty condoms given away at the ANC's centenary party celebrations - but a large number are feared to be still in circulation.

The authorities have recalled 1.35 million leaky condoms after complaints from users that they broke or were porous.

A batch of 8,700 boxes - which all bore the South African Bureau of Standards stamp - were delivered to guesthouses, hotels, restaurants and bars before the ANC celebrations, AP reported.

Aids activist Sello Mokhalipi, who works for Treatment Action Campaign, told the BBC that after he and his colleague's poured water into the condoms to test them, "they leaked like sieves."

Provincial health department spokesman Jabu Mbalula said his department had recalled the condoms to conduct its own tests.

Activists fear that a large number are still in circulation.

"The condoms are still out there in large numbers and that is of great concern to us," Mokhalipi said.

South Africa has one of the highest HIV infection rates in the world.

South Africa AIDS