SABC, musicians unite to fight HIV/Aids

The handover ceremony took place on Wednesday, 14 February 2007 at the SABC headquarters in Auckland Park, Johannesburg.

The money has been given over to the SABC’s Mpumalanga, Limpopo and Gauteng offices for distribution to registered NGOs, as well as to organisations working in this field.

Fight head-on

Speaking to the audience, SABC group CEO Dali Mpofu said: “This is a very serious issue for us as South Africans and Africans. Challenges facing our communities such as poverty, health issues, education and drug abuse are challenges that we as a caring nation must collectively fight head-on.”

Mpofu, who is also the chairman of the Global Media Aids Initiative, added: “It is imperative that the SABC as a public broadcaster is at the forefront in combating the HIV/Aids pandemic, and partnerships such as this one with AMAHA are crucial in raising awareness and funds.”

Apart from money, clothes and non-perishable goods were also raised during the awareness and fundraising campaigns held in the abovementioned provinces, culminating in the donation of ‘baskets of love’ (food parcels) to 10 000 families at the cost of R312 000.

AMAHA chairman Doc Shebeleza said: “Our holistic approach is to encourage individuals and musicians to develop a sense of social responsibility. AMAHA got the voice and SABC has the airwaves.”

Media’s role

Shebeleza also thanked Johnnic-owned publications Sowetan and Sunday World for giving a lot of publicity to the campaign. Many observers believe that the media’s role in society should not only be limited in just informing and educating.

The music fraternity was fairly represented in the event, with big names such as Judith Sephuma, Hotstix Sipho Mabuse, Deborah Fraser, Mzwakhe Mbuli, Jonas Gwangwa, Mdu Masilela, Stimela, Pitch Black Afro and many more.

According to UNAIDS, close to 40 million people worldwide are currently infected with the deadly virus. Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for 63% of that number or 24.7 million people. Close to 18 million women worldwide are infected by the disease. Last year, Aids killed at least 2.9 million people worldwide and another 4.3 million became infected with the virus the same year.

At least 5.5 million South Africans are now living with the disease, including 37% of pregnant women. Since its ‘discovery’ in 1981, Aids has been making inroads, devastating entire communities and leaving a trail of misery, solitude and poverty.

Headed by children

Many South African families, especially in the previously-disadvantaged communities, whose both parents have succumbed to the disease, are now headed by children, some as young as 12 and 15.

For more information about this HIV/Aids project, go to on www.sabc.co.za or call AMAHA’s Doc Shebeleza on +27 (0)82 306 8888.