Wayne Oosthuizen
Nkosi Johnson was South Africa’s longest surviving child born HIV positive. He died at 5.40am on Friday, 1 June, 2001. His life was characterised by his brave fight for the rights of the HIV positive.
In July 2000, this slight child with the soulful eyes and full-blown AIDS captured the hearts of millions of TV viewers when his address at the 13th International AIDS Conference in Durban, South Africa, was televised worldwide. In a speech that he wrote himself, the then 11-year-old Nkosi spoke frankly to delegates about his experiences with HIV and about the issues surrounding AIDS in South Africa.
An excerpt from this speech reads:
“Care for us and accept us — we are all human beings. We are normal. We have hands. We have feet. We can walk, we can talk, we have needs just like everyone else. Don’t be afraid of us — we are all the same.”
Together with his “mommy Gail” (his foster mother Gail Johnson) Nkosi made more of a difference in his 12 years than most people will achieve in a lifetime. Because of him, companies, individuals and indeed governments have opened their hearts and their pockets to People With Aids (PWAs) in South Africa, where the rate of HIV infection has reached pandemic proportions with frightening speed.
Cinechicks is committed to helping out Nkosi’s Haven and Foundation. The basis of their work consists of three projects: The Havens keep HIV infected mothers and children together. The Village houses several dozen families. And the Farm is a working entity that helps to produce food and jobs. Visit their website today!