“My favourite cow is Roomys,” Elvis says earnestly, before flashing a quick grin, something that does not happen often.

Elvis is a big name for such a small chap, but then one is reminded that he has experienced more pain, suffering and loss in his nine years than most South Africans would in a lifetime.

Classified as an AIDS orphan, Elvis lost his mother in 1998 and his father last year. He lives with an unemployed aunt who sells tripe (animal intestines)in Pietersburg.

Minding cattle after school between 2pm and 6pm, seven days a week, Elvis is clear that he doesn’t want to herd cattle for the rest of his life, but that he has no idea where he wants to go or what he wants to become when he finishes school.

He has lived in the tiny rural village of Maupye, about two hours by car, northwest from Pietersburg.

Dusty, arid, desolate, dry and extremely hot are the only appropriate words to describe Maupye, “Patrys! Roomys! Rooitjie!” Elvis calls as he herds the 22 cattle and four donkeys towards the village. He seems oblivious to the extreme heat, settling into a comfortable jog behind his herd, barely visible as he bounces through the tall grass.

“Sometimes the cows go missing and I spend most of the night trying to find them, but I have never lost one,” he says proudly.

“I don’t know what my parents died of. Nobody has told me anything. My father used to work as a packer at Checkers, but he was ill and died.

“When he was alive we always had food to eat, now we mostly eat bread or pap and tea. There isn’t always enough food and sometimes we only eat dry porridge.

“I think things would have been better if my parents were still alive,” he says.

Elvis and his family sometimes receive food parcels from Takalani-Nana, a non-governmental organisation caring for those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS.

“We have been living the New York disaster for a long time. They have no idea.” sighs Ruth, one of the Takalani caregivers, herself living with HIV.

“I think the stigma is more rooted here than in any other region,” says Sara Galane, Takalani co-ordinator.

Galane and a group of women started Takalani three years ago. They deliver food parcels, establish income-generating projects in the communities and offer home based care.

“In many cases people think that the sick person is bewitched and they burn their houses,” says Galane.

“We try and hold as many talks at schools as possible. We are trying to get people to realise that AIDS is a reality.”

Galane is hoping to build a home for destitute patients and orphans. “It must be a real home, not an institution.”

“But I guess we are waiting for manna from heaven before we can realise this dream,” she says.

Takalani is currently caring for 535 orphans in the Pietersburg region alone with as many as 12 people dying in a two-week period.

“A day without a death is a good day,” Galane remarks.

Elvis was one of 90 children who recently attended a Children’s Forum on HIV/AIDS in Cape Town. The Children’s Institute at the University of Cape Town will be presenting a report to decision makers containing the view expressed by the orphans at the forum.

*Takalani-Nana can be contacted on (015) 290-2363.
– Health-e News Service