eThekwini | Fast-Track Cities

Mayor's Message

"eThekwini is committed to achieving the goals of the Fast-Track Cities Initiative, and we will work together using a multi-sectoral response to address the health and social issues driving our dual HIV and TB epidemics. Even with the recent challenges posed by COVID-19, we work tirelessly together with all our partners and ensure that we are “focused for impact” in this community. Guarding human rights, eliminating stigma, and empowering communities will help us win the battle."

Cllr Mxolisi Kaunda

Mayor of eThekwini

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Community Leadership Messages

“I never imagined I would be in the situation I found myself in. And I had no idea how I would break the news to my family. Unlike many parents in my community who consider talking about sex as taboo, my parents had spoken to me and my sister about sex and HIV. But how do you tell them: yes…you have educated me and done everything you can to protect me. But.. guess what.. I’m HIV positive? Then there was my boyfriend. How would I tell him and get him to be tested too? My mother just broke down when I told her. My father whose reaction I was most worried about though was surprisingly understanding. He said to me, 'You are in this situation. We can’t turn back the hands of time. And we need to deal with this as a family.'
Today I’m a peer mentor myself. I want the girls I see to have bright futures, be independent, strong. Almost a year ago, I gave birth to a lovely daughter named Sinothando. I am happy to tell you that she was tested for HIV and her results came back negative thanks to U=U. My beautiful little girl is proof that our dream of a generation without HIV can become a reality.”

Sanelisiwe Nkomo

Peer Mentor in Durban, Age 22

Mothers2Mothers

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“I’m a coordinator for Community Strengthening System officer providing Capacity Building to emerging organisations that are not funded. The training that we offer is accredited (HIV Testing Service with 5 unit standards and Organisational Development for 10 modules) to ensure that their system e.g. Finance Policies & NPO Governance are in place in order for them to attract funding to implement within their communities and to contribute to 90-90-90 strategy. I was diagnosed with HIV in 2003 while I was expecting my child. As human beings who are developing within complex system of relationships, affected by multiple levels of the surrounding environment. This includes the attitudes, beliefs and perceptions of the HIV-positive mother towards my family member and other significant people in the community. It was difficult for me as single mother living with HIV to disclose my status to my children and I was trying to protect them to not be stigmatised by other people. I also experience feelings of rejection and blame, ambivalence together with the fear of death. To raise kids alone is a challenge and hard to pay their school fees at times.”

Azande Mntambo

Coordinator, Community Strengthening System Officer

“I have an interview this morning, oh man what a mission… what to wear?

This has been the story throughout my youth and my adulthood ever since I started looking for employment as a lesbian who is a tomboy.

I could meet all the requirements and job specs but as soon as the interviewer sees my dress; I sense it's already a downward spiral from there. I would get feedback such as ‘ you are very well spoken' and 'it would be a pleasure to have you as part of our family; however, for the image of the company you don’t quite fit the profile’ another employer had the audacity to ask me to change the way I dress as it was too manly, saying I felt offended was an understatement I just felt disrespected. This has led me to feel like being a lesbian has put my career on life support. I hope someday society will get to a place where they judge a person based on their skills and what they can bring to the table rather than how they dress or who they are.

If I had probably worn a skirt that job would have been mine. I am who I am and I deserve a fair chance.”

Xolile Siphumelele Buthelezi

"At the age of 26, after losing my parents to HIV and diabetes I discovered that I was also HIV-positive. I almost killed myself but I couldn’t because I had a child who needed me. I was confused and scared of disclosing until I fell pregnant again and that was my turning point. I knew I was living for 2 other people. No one else mattered. I disclosed to my siblings and a partner who supported me up until I decided that I wanted to help other young women to overcome their fear of what people will say.

I have dedicated myself to working with people who live with HIV, especially young women. Even though this is therapeutic I sometimes feel scared because not everyone in the community is understanding and there is still stigma on People Living with HIV.

With my kind of work (Community Care Worker) the challenge is that some people don’t even want to be seen with us, because the community will assume that they are HIV-positive, despite the fact that we educate people about all chronic illnesses.”

Thenjiwe Mabaso

“Six years ago I joined AFSA as a capacity building officer working on a youth ambassador programme. In 2014, I moved to the Sexual & Reproductive Health Rights programme which provided financial support, capacity building and mentorship to community based organisations. In 2017, I began work on the AIDS Foundation’s Global Fund Programme and my main focus is on developing the capacity of community based organisations for program implementation in the areas of HIV Testing Services, reducing stigma related to gender, culture and HIV, sexual and productive health rights, and advocacy and human rights programming for key populations, and treatment literacy and adherence.

I am an HIV activist and [gender-based violence] GBV survivor. I worked as a Treatment Literacy Practitioner for the TAC also organised protest marches and advocacy campaigns. I have also done prevention work and promoted HIV testing in correctional facilities; and ran adherence classes at public health facilities.“

Louissa Mbhele

“Although much progress has been made in South Africa, greater effort needs to be dedicated to empowering young people in all their diversity. In my context, young people remain vulnerable, but have the greatest challenges in accessing youth-friendly health services. Thus, for us to completely ‘get to zero’, it is important that we begin to work through structural challenges to accelerate prevention and treatment efforts gear.”

Melusi Dlamini

AIDS Foundation of South Africa

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Durban / eThekwini

eThekwini 90-90-90 Targets (2019) PLHIV: 652,959

eThekwini HIV Care Continuum (2019) PLHIV: 652,959

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Community Leadership Messages

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