Many South African celebrities have opened up about living positively with HIV over the years thus helping curb stigma that comes with HIV/AIDS. Knowing that there are people like us out there living for year with HIV has helped many people embrace and accept their statuses. See the 5 South African Celebrities Who Are Living Positively With HIV In 2019.
1. Criselda Kananda
Criselda is a South African HIV positive activist who has assumed many roles in media and extensively uses her platform to speak about HIV. She started a radio talk show called Positive Talk in 2003 on KAYA-FM focusing on how HIV and AIDS impacts on health, wellness, socio economic imbalances. She produced and hosted the talk show every Monday evening 19:30 to 21:00 and has been featured on several newspapers and magazines including Oprah Winfrey’s O magazine and television programs locally and abroad.
2. Tasneem Motara
Tasneem Motara is an MP for the African National Congress. She revealed her status in 2019 after a former partner tried to blackmail her. In a lengthy post she wrote “Dear world, So someone is threatening to reveal my status to you all. But let me save him the hassle of doing it. I have nothing to hide, but also some things are not necessary to share with people it doesn’t affect. But since I’m being threatened let me do it. Coz I don’t take kindly to threats. I’m HIV positive and have been for 8 years now, possibly more. I was infected by my former partner who kept his status from me.
I committed to never keep it from anyone I would be in a relationship with and I did exactly that. Two weeks after meeting my now ex who is threatening to tell the world, I disclosed my status and he was fine with it, and we continued our relationship… for 6 years. Perhaps his threats are a good thing, it has made me add my voice to the destigmatisation that still is embedded in our society. My status has never defined me, it never will. My viral load is undetectable and has been for years. I am not a risk to anyone, but that’s a discussion for another day. Let me get out of bed and go to my deployment…”
3. Lebogang Brenda Motsumi
Lebogang Brenda Motsumi is a young South African activist who is living with HIV. She is widely known as an advocate for HIV/AIDS awareness and over the years she has spoken on numerous platforms in the country. Lebogang Brenda Motsumi is also a Co-Founder of LM Inspirations, Public speaker, HIV Activist, Zazi and Brothers for Life Ambassador .
4. Thabang Sefatsa
Thabang is a a former South African soccer player has disclosed his HIV status as part of the World AIDS awareness month. He played for Roses FC and Tigers FC.
International
5. Magic Johnson
After announcing his infection in November 1991, Johnson created the Magic Johnson Foundation to help combat HIV, although he later diversified the foundation to include other charitable goals. In 1992, he joined the National Commission on AIDS, a committee appointed by members of Congress and the Bush Administration. Johnson left after eight months, saying that the White House had “utterly ignored” the work of the panel, and had opposed the commission’s recommendations, which included universal healthcare and the expansion of Medicaid to cover all low-income people with AIDS. He was also the main speaker for the United Nations (UN) World AIDS Day Conference in 1999, and has served as a United Nations Messenger of Peace
