The South African National Strategic Plan of 2000-2005 and the current version of 2007-2011 on HIV and AIDS, gave effect to the establishment of AIDS councils within municipalities. Despite the existence of AIDS councils in the municipalities, there is a lack of public participation related to HIV and AIDS matters. The purpose of this article is to establish whether the policies of HIV and AIDS councils in South Africa promote public participation and partnerships at the local government level. Public participation at local government is the key principle in governance as this is where service delivery programmes are coordinated, integrated and implemented. There is very little documented evidence on the functioning of the HIV and AIDS councils at local government level in South Africa, as this is a relatively new concept. The reviewed literature focuses on issues of HIV and AIDS with specific reference to clinical care programmes bu