TAC leaders reflect on 10 years of ARVs

TAC leaders reflect on 10 years of ARVs

The TAC has been fighting the good fight since 1998. Leaders come and go and hand over the baton to a new generation. TAC’s current leaders have been working hard to stay true to our roots, but have been leading the organisation on playing a meaningful role in stemming the collapse of health systems in our provinces, making sure the organisation is in tune with the needs of our communities on the ground. Meet some of our leaders.

01sindi“People living with HIV have been the voice of change when it comes to the South African health system. This has been key in previously disadvantaged communities where we still have to end health apartheid. The TAC and People living with HIV sector have demonstrated enormous courage through advocacy and leading us towards reaching the 10 years of ARVs milestone.”
SINDI BLOSE
DEPUTY GENERAL SECRETARY
02sibo“When I got diagnosed in 2000 I was very sick, without treatment. It was hell! In 2006 I accessed treatment thanks to the TAC fighting against an AIDS denialist government. If it wasn’t for the TAC I wouldn’t be alive today”
SIBONGILE TSHABALALA
GAUTENG PROVINCIAL CHAIRPERSON
03sibu“ARVS gave hope where there was none. People living with HIV can now live a long and healthy life that was not possible before. Irrespective of HIV status I can live a normal life. If ARVs had not become available so many people would have died.”
SIBUSISO MASITENG
MPUMALANGA PROVINCIAL CHAIRPERSON
04gabi“I joined the TAC in 2005 to change my strict Christian family’s perception about people with HIV/AIDS. My parents would chase any family member with HIV away because they saw it as a disgrace. After I told them everything I learnt from TAC they stopped discriminating against HIV positive people. TAC really helped me change my family and bring them back together.”
GABISILE MBUYANE
MPUMALANGA DISTRICT ORGANISER
05andrew“10 Years of ARVs in my life means a lots and it is thanks to the TAC. If the TAC had not been there, I would not be here and I need to thank them for saving my life. We need to keep doing what we doing, there are lives to save”
ANDREW MOSANE
PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS REPRESENTATIVE
06neliswe“For me 10 years of ARVs mean a second chance at life. I didn’t understand HIV/AIDS and I was very ignorant towards ARVs I thought they made you worse. It was only after I joined the TAC back in 2011 that I got enlightened I now know enough and teach others about the benefits of ARVs. “
NELISIWE MALINGA
NATIONAL DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON
07nkensani“The roll out of ARVs was a disaster for the undertakers and funeral businesses! So many lives were saved. Although I haven’t started treatment yet, the roll out of ARVs gave me so much hope. Hope that I will be there for my children in the future.”
NKHENSANI MAVASA
NATIONAL CHAIRPERSON
08anele“The TAC is about more than HIV and ARVs. ARVs are about more than the TAC. We are talking about our country, our democracy, our people, our communities. The TAC is part of this country’s heart, take us away and the country loses part of its heart.”
ANELE YAWA
GENERAL SECRETARY
09stephen“During the days of Manto I worked for a government-funded organisation. We told people that ARVs were toxic. We didn’t know better. My friend introduced me to the TAC, but I was wary because people said they were anti-government, but I also wasn’t convinced by what Manto was saying. I haven’t left the TAC since.”
STEPHEN NGCOBO
GAUTENG PROVINCIAL COORDINATOR
10nolo“Ten years after the rollout of ARVs, a number of factors have become easier or more efficient: compliance as a result of the FDC (fixed dose combination) and the initiation on ART through the nurse-driven system used at PHC level. I look forward to the next 10 years!”
NOLOYISO NTAMENTHLO
EASTERN CAPE CO-ORDINATOR
11loyiso“Post 2004, we, people with HIV, can live again thanks to ARVs. I can live a normal life like any HIV negative person. There’s no longer a time-limit to my life. I can dream again and work towards those dreams like normal people. I can raise my children in the same way that I was raised without being sick or being afraid that I will die soon.”
LOYISO MAHOMBA
WESTERN CAPE PROVINCIAL OFFICER
12sellinah“My relative was very sick and while I’m not infected I am affected. My sister was bed ridden and we couldn’t even recognise her. Today, thanks to ARVs she’s healthy and living her life. I trust ARVs. The TAC is my second home and it means everything to me! Their constant concern about people’s health and lives has made me fall in love with them.”
SELLINAH HLABAHLABA
FREE STATE PROVINCIAL OFFICER
13tsepo“Back in 2004 when I was diagnosed I knew nothing about HIV/AIDS, I felt very depressed and constantly thought I was going to die. When I stumbled upon the TAC in 2010 I learnt so much about the treatment literacy and the lifecycle of HIV, I then got empowered and with the information I have I now empower others in my community.”
TSHEPO MABOE
GAUTENG BRANCH ORGANISER
14macho“Before I had access to treatment I was very ill. I had no hope that I would live. But in 2005 I was initiated onto ARVs. It was life changing. For the first time I looked beyond my HIV status.”
MACHOBANE MORAKE
FREE STATE PROVINCIAL COORDINATOR
15fikile“My CD4 count was at 34 when I joined the TAC, today it is 780 thanks to the workshops and classes I’ve attended through the TAC. My story was featured in Real magazine last year and in City Press this year empowering people that one can have a productive life being HIV positive.”
FIKILE MTSWENI
GAUTENG BRANCH ORGANISER
16promise“Before I joined the TAC, people in my family were dying left right and centre from HIV and AIDS, I joined the TAC in 2000 and learnt so much about HIV/AIDS which encouraged me to find out about my own status. In 2001 I tested positive but that didn’t scare me. Today I have a healthy boy and I’m still not on treatment with a CD4 count of 660. I’m healthy and loving life.”
PROMISE MAKHANYA
KZN DISTRICT ORGANISER
17fikile“ARVs completely changed my life. They gave longeivity. I am only alive because of them. I feel like a better and a true person now. I’m no longer downgraded because of my status.”
FIKILE BOYCE
EASTERN CAPE PROVINCIAL CHAIR
18luzuko“I used to know nothing about HIV/AIDS. I would come across people who were very sick and didn’t know what was wrong with them. It was only after I joined the TAC that I was able to educate communities about positive living. I have fallen in love with the TAC and I wear my HIV positive t-shirt with pride!”
LUZUKO MELAPI
WESTERN CAPE PREVENTION TREATMENT LITERACY PRACTITIONER
19neli“My boy was born HIV negative thanks to ARVs. He is nine years old today and wants to be a doctor. He wants to save lives, he says. He already pretends to be my doctor, you know, asking me every day “Mummy have you taken your pills today?” Me and my boy will have a long life together thanks to ARVs and the TAC. “
NELISWA NKWALI
WESTERN CAPE PREVENTION TREATMENT LITERACY PRACTITIONER
20patrick“In the early days I lost five family members to AIDS. We saw so much death. But the TAC managed to bring life and treatment, it brought understanding and literacy. It is because of the TAC that I grasped the importance of ARVs. Today I have an undetectable viral load. I can’t go back to those dark days and see more people die.”
PATRICK MDLETSHE
KZN PROVINCIAL CHAIRPERSON
21victor“Without the TAC my voice would be silent. That is why the TAC is so close to the community. The community understands and trusts the TAC because they do not compromise, they call a spade a spade and we shout until we are heard.”
VICTOR MALULEKE
LIMPOPO MEN’S SECTOR REPRESENTATIVE
22mzamo“10 years of ARVs marks the defeat of political denialism and the end of health apartheid. But the TAC must remain the guardian of this programme. AIDS is most definitely not over and it still needs an exceptional effort to control it.”
MZAMOWENKOSI ZONDI
KZN PROVINCIAL COORDINATOR
23bongi“Some comrades who fought with us for access to treatment have passed away without having a taste of ARVs. Ten years of ARVs in South Africa means hope even though we have constant shortages of ARVs. It gives me a reason to look into the future. But AIDS is not yet over, the struggle continues.”
BONGINKOSI MTHEMBU
NATIONAL SKILLS DEVELOPMENT OFFICER
24amu“Before ARVs countless lives were lost, everyone knew someone. If ARVs had come sooner I wouldn’t have lost my close aunt. But a strong civil society voice led by the TAC means now we do have access. We have given life to people living with HIV.”
AMUKELANI MALULEKE
LIMPOPO PROVINCIAL COORDINATOR
25solanga“My life would have meant nothing without the TAC and ARVs. When you get infected and you know that there is no treatment your life will mean nothing anymore. With treatment I can now still do what I’m supposed to do. If there was no treatment I would not have the family I have now. I have them thanks to ARVs.”
SOLANGA MILAMBO
LIMPOPO PROVINCIAL CHAIRPERSON
26tantaswa“The TAC came at the right time, offering real hope to those who had lost it. It was not easy as we had to face many challenges from government, but the TAC managed to stand up and save the lives of the people. Without the TAC more than 2.6-million people could have died due to no ARVs in the public health sector. COMETH THE HOUR, COMETH THE TAC.”
TANTASWA NDLELANA
NATIONAL ADMINISTRATOR
27boster“When I joined the TAC I very quickly realised that this was more than a job, this is a place where I can help my community. I have learnt through this organisation how to raise challenges in the community and how to mobilise people. On a daily basis I speak to people in the community and help them fight for their rights, for services that we have a right to according to our constitution.”
BOSTER CHAUKE
LIMPOPO PROVINCIAL SECRETARY
28helen“The ARV programme has proved to HIV denialists that ARV drugs work. More than 2.5-million lives have been saved. However, we are not there yet. We need to work together to ensure that there really is equal access, that stocks are available and that patents laws don’t inhibit the access to treatment.”
HELEN CHORLTON
ACTING NATIONAL MANAGER
AND COO
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