Shelley Point, Stompneus Bay, Paternoster, Hopefield’€¦place names that for many conjure up images of lazy holidays filled white beaches, blue sea, whale watching, surfing, crayfish and cold wine.

Less than 300 kilometres inland from the West Coast the environment changes from semi-dessert to lush vineyards where award-winning wine is produced and fruit trees strain under the weight of summer fruit.

Orphan grows up to take care of other orphans as support group manages to steer children from a life of crime.

At Nosihle’€™s school, Izingolweni Primary School in the south of KwaZulu-Natal, one in ten children have lost one or both parents.

Goodman Vilakazi’€™s physical disability has never been an obstacle. The 58-year old man in a wheel-chair has looked beyond what could be a serious shortcoming and runs a literacy project for other disabled people and the elderly in his community.

Springbok wing Ashwin Willemse, knows the importance of taking an HIV test. Announcing that he had been tested this week, he hopes that he will encourage the youth to act responsibly and do the same.

Two out of every three new HIV infections that occur in Africa are in people who are in stable relationships. Also, it has been observed that about one in five couples in Africa are known to be in a discordant relationship, where only one partner is HIV positive. These observations have led to the promotion of what is now known as ‘€œCouples’€™ HIV counselling and testing’€ to strengthen prevention efforts.

South Africa’€™s Aids epidemic, one of the largest in the world, shows no sign of relenting, while infection levels continue to drop in Uganda and now also in parts of Kenya and Zimbabwe, according the UNAIDS Aids Epidemic Update.

The Treatment Action Campaign this week released a statement and fact sheet in which it explains why it holds Matthias Rath responsible for several deaths of HIV infected individuals.