Ramaphosa acknowledges Aids failures

Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa visited Nkosi’s Haven where he acknowledged government’s failures in the past in the fight against HIV and Aids.

Johannesburg - South African Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa on Wednesday visited Nkosi’s Haven where he acknowledged government’s failures in the past in the fight against HIV and Aids.

Ramaphosa, who was accompanied by Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, said the government remained committed to fighting the pandemic.

The Deputy President thanked Gail Johnson, who adopted Xolani Nkosi and fought a gallant fight for his right to education and medication. When he died aged 12, he was the longest-surviving child born with HIV in the country.

In July 2000, Nkosi Johnson made a passionate plea, which was televised worldwide at the 13th International Aids Conference in Durban. He shocked many when he said: “Hi, my name is Nkosi Johnson … I am 11 years old and I have full-blown Aids. I was born HIV-positive.” He asked the government to help him and others living with HIV/AIDS to access education and medication.

For his activism in the fight against Aids, Nkosi Johnson, acknowledged as an icon by former President Nelson Mandela, was posthumously awarded the first KidsRights Foundation’s international Children’s Peace Prize in Rome in November 2001.

“I wish to thank Ms Gail Johnson and her family for letting the seed of peace, hope and understanding blossom at this life-inspiring village which honours the wishes and memory of Xolani Nkosi Johnson,” said Ramaphosa.

“His birth name ‘Xolani’ captured the yearning for peace, forgiveness and love.”

Ramaphosa said the realisation of Nkosi’s dream at “this village affords us the opportunity to come to terms with the pain of how AIDS deprived our nation of this courageous, brave young soul at the tender age of 12”.

He said Nkosi’s Haven has become a place of hope, acceptance and renewal.

“It is a sanctuary for mothers who need another chance to be in the lives of their children away from the scorn of the ignorant and the brutality of abusive men. It is a safe place that supports and builds the abandoned, the ill and the weak. It is a community of dreamers and achievers.”

Ramaphosa said it was at Nkosi’s Haven where the truth was reinforced that people with HIV are human beings with capabilities, needs and wishes like everyone else.

“This is a home whose task is to enlighten, inspire and empower as it challenges all of us to act collectively and urgently against prejudice, stigma and discrimination.”

Nkosi is an international icon of the struggle for life and a great ambassador for millions of South Africans living with HIV.

“Since his fight to be admitted to school in 1997 and his memorable address at the AIDS Conference in Durban in 2000, we have made many strides as a country to fight discrimination against people living with HIV, to roll out free ARV treatment, and to reduce mother to child transmission,” said Ramaphosa.

The task of promoting safe sexual behaviour and promoting greater awareness about HIV is a task none of us must be exempt from undertaking, said the Deputy President. His remarks come ahead of the 21st International AIDS Conference, which begins in Durban on Monday.

“As South Africa, we will share with the world the progress we have made in combating the AIDS pandemic since 2000. We will share with them how Nkosi Johnson remains alive in the lives of the many children and mothers whose lives are rekindled and transformed daily at this village,” said Ramaphosa.

“We will remind them that he remains a source of inspiration to his mother Gail and his extended family here and elsewhere.

“We will insist that the dream of an HIV-free generation remains possible in our lifetime if we all pull our resources together, act in unity and act now. We thank you all at Nkosi’s Haven for allowing us to come here to draw strength and inspiration as we count down to AIDS 2016.”

African News Agency