World AIDS Day: South Africa's most prominent AIDS activists

From statesmen, to musicians, movie stars, and even child advocates - these are the people who have championed the fight against HIV/AIDS in South Africa: 

Nelson Mandela: 

The former South African president's death in 2013 sent the world into mourning. But Nelson Mandela's legacy as an advocate for HIV/ AIDS prevention and research, today remains as a testament to the many humanitarian causes he championed during his lifetime. 

In 2002, the beloved statesman launched his 46664 campaign - a global HIV/AIDS prevention and awareness initiative which aims to highlight the emergency of the disease, by raising funds through unique music-related live events - hosted by international ambassadors.

Madiba launched the campaign as an African response to the international HIV AIDS epidemic. The cause was one he held particularly close to his heart, as since his own son - Makgatho Mandela - died from the disease in 2005.

In June 2013 (just six months before his death at the age of 95), the head of the UN's Aids prevention agency hailed Mandela for his role in breaking the silence and shame surrounding the deadly disease.

Michel Sidibe, the executive director of UNAIDS, said that Madiba was the person who really helped to break the 'conspiracy of silence.'

"His legacy is that of non-discrimination, inclusiveness, and making sure that we will continue to fight for the rights of people without rights... That is what he brought to the fight against HIV/Aids", he said.

Annie Lenox:

Grammy Award-winning lead singer of the Eurythmics, Annie Lenox, is not South African - but the country and it's fight against HIV/AIDS, remains dear to her heart. So much so that she even married a South African AIDS activist, Dr Mitch Besser, in 2012 - whom she met in 2009 after getting involved with his AIDS charity, Mothers2Mothers - which helps children and single mothers living with the disease. 

Lennox has also been actively involved with Nelson Mandela’s 46664 Foundation since its launch. She now devotes the majority of her time to raising awareness about the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Africa. 

“One third of pregnant women in South Africa are HIV positive,” Lennox told CNN. “We can prevent their children being born with the virus if we let the women have access to treatment. If you do not allow that to happen, you’re going to have future generations simply being wiped out.”

Charlize Theron:

The Benoni-born Oscar winner is the founder of the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project - an initiative which invests in African youth to keep them safe from HIV/AIDS. 

The Project was created in 2007 by Theron, who is also a UN Messenger of Peace. 

Earlier this year, at the 2016 International AIDS Conference held in Durban, Theron said not enough is being done to curb the spread of the AIDS epidemic.

“It’s time to face the truth about the unjust world we live in, the truth is we have every tool we need to prevent the spread of HIV… let’s ask ourselves why haven’t we beaten this epidemic. Could it be because we don’t want to?” she asked. 

Theron also highlighted racism as a negative factor towards the eradication of the disease. “We value men more than women. Straight love more than gay love. White skin more than black skin. The rich more than the poor, and adults more than adolescents. I know this because AIDS does not discriminate on its own. It has no biological preference… it doesn’t single out the vulnerable, the oppressed or the abused. We single out the vulnerable, the oppressed and the abused. We ignore them, we let them suffer and then we let them die.”

Nkosi Johnson:

Nkosi Johnson was South Africa's most famous child AIDS activist. He was born with HIV in 1989, and died in 2001 - aged 12. 

Johnson rose to international prominence in 2000, when he delivered a self-written speech at the 13th International AIDS Conference, in Durban.

In his speech, the then-11-year-old stated: “Hi, my name is Nkosi Johnson, and I have full-blown Aids. I was born HIV-positive.” He ended his powerful declaration with the following words: “Care for us and accept us – we are all human beings. We are normal. We have hands. We have feet. We can walk, we can talk, we have needs just like everyone else. Don’t be afraid of us – we are all the same.” 

In 1999, Nkosi's foster mother, Gail Johnson, founded Nkosi's Haven - a NGO that offers holistic care and support for destitute HIV/AIDS infected mothers, children, and resulting AIDS orphans.

Following his death from AIDS-related complications in June 2001, the young activist was given a hero’s burial in Johannesburg . His funeral was attended by thousands of mourners.

Former president Nelson Mandela said of Nkosi's death: “It’s a great pity that this young man has departed. He was exemplary in showing how one should handle a disaster of this nature. He was very bold about it and he touched many hearts.”

Watch a tribute to Nkosi Johnson below: 

Zackie Achmat: 

Zackie Achmat's name is synonymous with AIDS activism in the country. Achmat is the co-founder of the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC). He's also the man who took the fight for affordable and accessible antiretroviral (ARV) drugs to governments and big pharmaceuticals - and won, saving millions of lives as a result of his efforts.

The openly-gay humanitarian was diagnosed with HIV in 1990. "In 1990, people - even doctors - believed that you had six months left to live from the point of diagnosis. It was very difficult. I spent six months in bed watching all the videos I ever wanted to see and reading all the books that I wanted to read. And then one day I woke up and thought, I've put on weight. And I'm still here," he said.

Despite a conservative Muslim upbringing, Achmat disclosed his HIV status to friends and family, immediately.

In 1996, he took a stand against unaffordable ARV drugs - choosing to forego treatment for himself, until ARVs were accessible to all. "At that time I was also starting to get sick. I was sick all the time ... I decided not to take antiretrovirals as a protest against drug companies, because I believed that they should be available to everyone," he said.

Not even Nelson Mandela, who visited Achmat at home in 2002 in an effort to persuade him to take his medicine, could change his mind. 

Achmat refused treatment until 2003, when a national congress of TAC activists voted to urge him to start taking ARVs. 

"[Mandela] put on this HIV T-shirt when he visited Khayelitsha Site C clinic. It was a few days before the ANC national conference in 2003 in Stellenbosch. That moment I realised that I could take my pills, because what he had done then was to take a stand against a party that he had given his life to," Achmat said.

Khwezi:

AIDS activist Fezekile "Khwezi" Kuzwayo came to prominence after she accused then-deputy president Jacob Zuma of rape, in 2005.

In 1990, she was diagnosed with HIV, and became an Aids activist.

She died in October 2016 at the age of 42 - from AIDS-related complications.