2 November 2001

Home / November 2, 2001

AIDS forces young mother to care for family of five

Natalia Baloi of Marirone, outside Tzaneen in the Northern Province, is a 22-year old unemployed single mother of a six year old boy. But now she finds herself not only being a mother to one child, but four others, the oldest of which is 17 years old. These added children are her younger siblings for whom she has to care since their parents died of an Aids-related disease. Although Natalia feels the responsibility to look after her siblings, she reveals that it is a very difficult task. This audio report is in Sesotho.
Read More » AIDS forces young mother to care for family of five

Child prostitutes & sex tourism

The question of child prostitution and how to deal with sex tourists who visit South Africa looking for children for sex were among those raised at the Sex Tourism conference held recently in Cape Town. The conference was convened as a result of the growing number of South African children who are being dragged into prostitution here at home, while others are being trafficked out of the country. This audio report is in Sesotho.
Read More » Child prostitutes & sex tourism

Nine year old herds cattle after school to feed family

The most vulnerable victims of Aids in South Africa are children. When parents die, they are often left alone to fend for themselves and their siblings. Sometimes, this means leaving school and losing their identity as a normal child. Fortunately for Elvis Lerole of Maupye in the Northern Province, he still goes to school. But instead of playing with his friends after class, he herds relatives' cattle for R400 a month. This meagre amount is the only income supporting Elvis and his sister - as well as the aunt, uncle and cousins they stay with ever since their parents died. This audio report is in Sesotho.
Read More » Nine year old herds cattle after school to feed family

Dosing the sick with avocados, bananas and prayer

The Roman Catholic Church has come under criticism for its view that condoms should not be seen as a means to fight the spread of Aids. Little credit is given though to the work the Church does to help those infected and affected by Aids, as well as its prevention education methods. In Tzaneen in the Northern Province, the Catholic Church has put together a programme called Education for Life, through which it teaches people about the dangers of AIDS and how to deal with the challenges put forward by the epidemic. And crucial to this programme is the need to address people's daily needs, like providing them with food. This audio report is in Sesotho.
Read More » Dosing the sick with avocados, bananas and prayer

Girls blamed for HIV
Living with AIDS programme 55

In Umzimkulu in the former Transkei, chiefs and pastors chastise the youth for contracting HIV and reprimand them at funerals as they bury those who have died. In this judgemental environment, very few young people will test for HIV, let alone disclose their status. Nozuko Ngcaweni is a remarkable exception. She is determined not only to speak out, but to educate her community so that midwives can take precautions when delivering babies and parents and children can begin to talk to each other.
Read More » Girls blamed for HIV
Living with AIDS programme 55

Newsletter Subscription

Enable Notifications OK No thanks