Kwa-Thema – Game Over (No talking stories) Productions founder Nkosana Radebe is living positively with HIV.
Radebe was diagnosed with the disease earlier this year when he went for his second Covid-19 vaccination jab.
He said he had been giving advice to his friend, who has been living with the disease for 10 years, however, things were different when he was diagnosed.
“It is easy to give out advice. However, having to live what you preach is now something else. The stigma is still too much and there is no support from family and friends,” said Radebe.
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Radebe said the life he used to live might have been what put him in a situation whereby he is now living with the disease.
“I’m a recovering addict; used to be on cocaine and used to love a flashy life so I would do anything at times to get what I want especially when drunk and high.
“There is a possibility that I’ve been living with the disease without knowing,” said Radebe.
Radebe said he has been clean for five years and has been trying to integrate into the community.
“When I started losing weight, people thought I was back on drugs and it was not a good sight,” said Radebe.
Radebe said when he was diagnosed, he never thought he would die but thought more about what people would say.
“When you start getting sick you would even think you are bewitched. I would like to urge the community to start giving support to HIV-positive people.
“The H in HIV stands for human, therefore, it means we never slept with animals but with other people,” said Radebe.
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