ActionSA commemorates World Aids Day
ActionSA president Herman Mashaba said he was saved from the lifestyle he was leading as a young man when he married his wife 42 years ago.
Kwa-Thema – The president of ActionSA, Herman Mashaba encouraged residents to keep at family structures to avoid the spread of HIV and Aids.
He was speaking during the party’s commemoration of World Aids Day held at the Kwa-Thema Community Hall.
The event was attended by pensioners from various groups, disability centres and youth groups in the area.
Heath screening and HIV and Aids testing were offered at the event.
Mashaba said he was saved from the lifestyle he was leading as a young man when he married his wife 42 years ago.
“Growing up, young men had too many girlfriends and this was normal and the order of the day. Unfortunately we lost many young people to the virus, something that could have been avoided if we had better role models who would have advised us otherwise.
“I identified that I was heading in a downward spiral and instead of buying a car, I decided to pay lobola for my wife,” he said.
Mashaba added that a non-negotiable way needs to be found to build strong black families.
“This will ensure that men respect our women. We cannot live in a society where women are abused and raped.
“We need to find long-term solutions so that we don’t have the virus as a threat to our lives,” he said.
Health worker Ivy Moshito encouraged residents to go for regular medical check-ups and for those who are taking treatment to adhere to it.
“The solutions to curbing the spreading the virus is through condomising and taking treatment. It is sad that in 2023 we still have people dying from the virus, something that could have been avoided,” she added.
