30th November 2009

WORLD AIDS DAY 2009 

MESSAGE BY
PRINCE MANGOSUTHU BUTHELEZI MP
PRESIDENT OF THE INKATHA FREEDOM PARTY 

Every year on December first we are reminded of the sons and daughters, the parents and siblings who have been lost to HIV/AIDS. 

But, ironically, this is also a day to celebrate life and to consider the gift we have each been given. 

At the recent Love Life annual conference, the IFP spoke about risk tolerance, which further endangers the lives of our people when it comes to HIV/AIDS. It seems that by now most South Africans know about HIV/AIDS, about its causes and how to prevent transmission. But somehow all the information does not translate into behavioural change for most of our people. 

The messages we have tried to send out as leaders vary from abstinence to condoms to one partner commitments. But we cannot hope to win the fight against AIDS unless our people know the risk - and decline to take it. And that is a personal choice for each one of us. 

To me, it is just nonsensical to engage in risky behaviour that endangers yourself, your partner, your future partners and possibly your children. If anyone can accept the risk of HIV for the sake of a few moments of pleasure, I doubt that they are mature enough to be engaging is sexual activities in the first place. 

In Zulu culture it is still difficult to talk about HIV/AIDS. When I spoke openly about my son and my daughter who died of this disease, people congratulated me on my courage. I don't think it took courage to speak. I think it takes courage to go against the flow of sexual immorality that pervades youth culture today; and to say no. 

Say no to risk. Say no to HIV. Say no to death before your time. Next year or the year after, don't be among the people we remember on December first. Be among the heroes that refuse to take the risk and are living life courageously. 

And to the many who are already infected, let us extend our kindness and help, because fighting this disease is difficult and often lonely. 

Let us never forget our shared humanity. Let compassion guide us in this ongoing war.