18 years in prison for the four accused of the murder of 19 year Zoliswa Nonkonyana
You would be forgiven for thinking there was a movie shoot happening outside the Khayelitsha Megistrate's Court today. The place was crawling with journalist, photographers, protestors from the community and NGO's mainly the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC), Socail Justice Coalision (SJC), Free Gender and Triangle Project, camera men and media vans all parked outside, eagerly awaiting the sentencing of the four men accused of murdering the 19 year old Zoliswa Nonkonyana more then five years ago.
The accused Mbulelo Damba, Sicelo Mase, Luyanda Lunzi and lubabalo were each sentenced to 18 years in prison for the murder of Zoliswa Nonkoyana who was living openly as a lesbain in Khayelitsha. As the megistrate handed her judgement she explained that she took into consideration the following issues.
- The anger demonstrated by the community members at the deliberate murder of the victim for living openly as a lesbain.
- The motive behind the murder was because of her sexaul orientation.
- She also took into consederation the support given to the accused by their family members signalising that they were still very much loved by their family
- She also noted the accused age's at the time of their arrest, stating that two were under 16 and two were just 17 years of age, she also stated that she would sentence them according to the ages they were at the time of their arrest.
- She also mentioned the fact that under the amended Child Protection Act (2008) charges such as this one aren't covered.
- And the fact that the accused never showed any remourse during the court case.
After taking all of this into consideration she then handed over the sentence, as she gave her sentencing the court went dead quite, you could hear a pin drop. And as they heard their sentences you could see the shock on the accused faces, as the crowd cheered at the announcement of the sentencing finally putting an end to the five year struggle in getting justice for Zoliswa's family.
The clearly distraught mother of Zoliswa could not handle the pressure of the media as they all swarmed her to be the first to get her statement. Lumkile Sizila had to shield her away from the media but Zoliswa's step dad was willing to give a statement. The 45 year old Cinumzi Mandidi expressed his joy as he explained to the media "all we wanted was for justice to be served and today it has been served."
Zoliwa's step father Mr Cinumzi Mandidi cant hide his joy from the media
Mpumalanga health facilities facing Tenofovir shortages
Health facilities in Mpumalanga province are facing a shortage of the antiretroviral drug, Tenofovir (TDF).
The Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) office in Ermelo has established that Fernie, Volkrust, Amsterdam, Iswepe, Carolina and Mayflower health facilities do not have TDF and have been experiencing this shortage since early January 2012.
In Iswepe, patients that are due to be initiated on to antiretroviral drugs with TDF as part of the regimen are placed on a waiting list until the problem is resolved. The current stocks are only used for those that are already on TDF based regimens to avoid defaulting.
In Carolina, patients are initiated onto Stavudine (D4T) based regimens and those that were changed from D4T to TDF have been temporarily returned to D4T until TDF is in stock.
Responding to TAC’s concerns over the shortages, Department of Health Provincial ARV manager, Mr. Duma Nkosi said the province started late with the initiation of patients on to TDF based regimens. By the time they placed their order to the suppliers, the suppliers did not have the required quantity of TDF because it was already late in the year and they were about to close for the December holidays and were only due to open late January.
The provincial health department has communicated with facilities to borrow TDF from other facilities nearby.
Mr Nkosi said authorities have also communicated with the suppliers of TDF regarding the shortage to provide a letter permitting the department to order from other companies outside of the tender.
Mr. Nkosi has assured TAC that this matter should be resolved by Friday 3 February 2012. TAC continues to monitor the situation with plans of taking appropriate action if the shortage persists beyond the given date.
This shortage comes hot on the heels of the drug shortages that were prevalent in the province in late 2010 until early 2011.
Public imbizo about National Health Insurance
TAC participated in a public imbizo at Ikamva Lethu on Dec 6 at 11am to discuss the community’s feedback about the proposed National Health Insurance.
Several representatives spoke about the plan. Mr. Mbele, a representative from COSATU, spoke about the workers’ perspective on the proposed NHI plan. He said that the union supports the NHI system because it promotes solidarity among all South African citizens. “Since it is those who are employed who will contribute to the NHI, the workers stand to benefit as well as contribute to the NHI”, he said.
“This NHI will open doors for everyone who can’t afford a better medical treatment right now”. Mr. Mbele also noted that COSATU will rely on community members to be the whistler blowers once the NHI is implemented, to share their experiences if the NHI does not conform to the guidelines that they promised. “The NHI relies on the community to make the NHI system work”, he concluded.
Sister Mpumi, who works at the Ubuntu clinic and is also a TAC activist, spoke on behalf of the nurses. She said that they also welcome and support the NHI system, which will make a huge difference in accessing better health care services for everyone. She noted that currently the public sector (which is the first point of contact for many people) is being inadequately considered by government. Nurses’ salaries are not adequate and this does not motivate people to give better health care. She said that most of the staff in the public sectors are overworked, overburdened and underpaid.
She further mentioned that in South Africa, only a few people have medical aid. She highlighted a personal example: “If we were all to be in an accident, my medical aid scheme would fly me away to a better clinic and leave everyone else at the accident scene. The NHI pledges solidarity for all South Africans, and those who work will pay for those who don’t”.
TAC calls for decisive action from the National Department of Health and Treasury to prevent the collapse of the National Health Laboratory Service
In the face of the National Health Laboratory Services facing collapse due to non-payment which will lead to a great loss of lives and interruption of essential diagnostic services, TAC Gauteng held a demonstration ant the MEC of Health offices in Johannesburg yesterday (12 December 2011)with the intention of showing concern regarding the imminent disaster that is facing our health system. The MEC was not available to receive the memorandum from TAC, but she sent out her Chief of Staff Mr Malibongwe Khanjana to receive it on her behalf as she was in a meeting. This comes as a shock because the TAC Provincial Council had received confirmation from her that she will be available. This goes on to show the no-commitment our leaders have when it comes to hearing the voices of the people they are serving. One wonders how important that meeting was compared to hearing the people you are supposed to taking care of their wellness. The chief of staff conveyed a message from the MEC saying that she will arrange a meeting with TAC to discuss the issue, but at this point meetings and discussions are not going to make any difference as a very important institution that plays a great role in the management of amongst other TB and HIV is facing bankruptcy and collapse.
TAC KZN picket outside HIVEX office
'This is a sad day for South Africa.' This is how Clive Fox Harvey, started his speech after receiving the memorundum.
More than 400 TAC members and partners (CEGAA, DrumAide) picketed outside HIVEX offices in Commercial City today. They demanded HIVEX to stop misleading the community and PLWHIV by making false claims about curing the HIV.
The weather was 28 degrees but Comrades stood tirelesslly outside HIVEX offices singing and waiting patiently for Clive to come out. Dr Manzini from UKZN gave us a talk about how the HIvirus works in the body and also about the dangers of defaulting,
Clive came out about thirty minutes late than he was suppose to. He claimed that TAC was misinformed abouit HIVEX and claimed that he had invited TAC to come and engage them about HIVEX, but TAC had repeatedly ignored those request.
We agreed to meet with him next year in a round table discussion about HIVEX.
16 Days of Activism against GBV
Marking the first day of this campaign, on November 25, activists from TAC, Social Justice Coalition and Triangle Project participated in a protest march through Ndlovini informal settlement to raise awareness about gender-based violence in this community. Residents watched and in some cases, joined in with the march through the main streets and up to the main football pitch. Activists from Social Justice Coalition and TAC spoke about the need to agitate against the everyday violence that occurs in the streets and homes of residents. Part of the march took activists past the nearly graves of two young girls, marked only by a small bouquet of flowers in one case, and police tape in the other. Residents were encouraged to speak out against violence and seek help from social workers and police to prosecute offenders.
World AIDS Day 2011
TAC members enter Parliament for the commemoration of World AIDS Day. Photo by Scott Naysmith
On Thursday Dec 1, we commemorated World AIDS Day with numerous events held around Khayelitsha and throughout Cape Town. First we participated in the unveiling of a plaque at the Ubuntu Clinic to commemorate the ten years of pioneering work this clinic has done for integrated TB and HIV treatment. A bronze plaque now rests proudly outside the main entrance, reminding all who enter of the hard work and dedication that brought such high standards of care to Khayelitsha. One of those involved in the unveiling announced, “This is the pride of Khayelitsha, this is the result of sweating, of perseverance – we have this treatment available here”. They warned the audience about the challenges ahead and urged them to push on. “Don’t give up, we are behind you, even if it’s an uphill battle”.
Next, a large group of TAC activists caught a bus into Cape Town, in order to attend the World AIDS Day commemoration at Parliament. It was a lively event, with speeches by civil society and government members, singing by Princilla Babu and a group of peer educators, candle lighting, and testimonials by activists.
Finally, we headed back to Khayelitsha for the event at Oliver Tambo Hall in Site C. There, a crowd of thousands watched in delight at the spectacle of the Zip Zap Circus, a group who teaches ground-based circus skills to children living with HIV and receiving ARV treatment. It is always a highlight of every World AIDS Day and this year was no exception. Other musical acts complemented the event.
All in all, it was a wonderful day, filled with pride for what has been accomplished to date to prevent and treat HIV infections, along with energy and enthusiasm for the work that still remains.
Plaque commemorating 10 years of integrated HIV and TB care at the Ubuntu Clinic, Khayelitsha. Photo by Scott Naysmith.
Photo by Scott Naysmith.
Crowds of people attend the World AIDS Day events at Oliver Tambo Hall at Mew Way, Khayelitsha. Photo by Scott Naysmith.
The Ekurhuleni District, Quarter 3 Newsletter is now avaialble at the following link: Ekurhuleni Quarter 3 Newsletter
MPOLWENI BRANCH PMTCT Campaign
We had the workshop about HPV and PMTCT, the workshop was accommodating all the branch members. The aim was to go to the community the following day and educate them about these issues. The person that was facilitating or educating the branch members was the Mpolweni PTLP Nonsikelelo Ngubo. She did HPV which is Human Papilloma Virus about it signs and symptoms, diagnosis and it own treatment. She also did PMTCT which is Prevention of mother to child transmission as the other topic because we needed to make sure of that all pregnant women knows about PMTCT and they are well educated to reduce new infections on children because we want free generation on HIV/AIDS. We then prepare for the next day about how to approach people out there in the community and what are we going to tell them. Before finish one of the members announced that there was a lady who came to him and ask for the whole group unfortunately she couldn’t find them all because they start their meeting at 12 midday and that lady was early. She then left the message to that guy and asked him to approach or ask the branch that they want to build the relationship with us, they want to work with us as the team, and then we discussed that matter and the members agreed. They wanted to do the big event on the 12th of November 2011 in fact they wanted to reach most importantly teenage awareness regarding drugs, teenage pregnancy, and HIV/AIDS. The aim of the door to door campaign was to encourage women to go for Pap smear at their nearby clinic. We still encouraging women even though they not pregnant now but we were still telling them about PMTCT for the future because we see the importance of feeding the information to the community so they will protect their unborn babies to HIV/AIDS.
The campaign went well because people they were willing to listen to us and on what we were telling them and they were showing to be interested. We reach 97 people 47 males and 50 women. We were having the pamphlets such as equal treatment and condoms, distributed 250 of equal treatment and 1400 of male condoms.