The City of Cape Town said the red lights on the mountain would be switched on between 7pm and 11pm.

"The city is participating in an international campaign aimed at turning the world red," the city said.

"The red campaign works with international brands to make unique red branded products, directing up to 50 percent of profits to the Global Fund for the fight against Aids in Africa.

"The City of Cape Town is a sub-recipient of a Global Fund grant and is currently funding HIV/TB projects for 80 non-governmental organisations."

The city said it had exceeded its annual target for HIV testing of people older than 15 years by more than four percent in 2010/2011.

It said 558,623 tests were conducted on residents over the age of 15, compared to 324,326 tests in 2009/10.

The city's mayoral committee member for health, Lungiswa James, urged Capetonians to be tested in the run up to World Aids Day.

“The major focus of these outreach events will be to raise awareness around HIV and also tuberculosis, which is a major cause of death for those infected with HIV," he said.