Community Journalists

The CMT Community Journalists supply intimate, youthful insight into both social and medical aspects of HIV/AIDS transmission. Their inclusion into Siyayinqoba Beat It! makes it possible to spend time seeking out stories, finding people who are happy to share often very personal insights and experiences with the hundreds of thousands of Siyayinqoba Beat It! viewers. The strength of the show has always been in using personal experience to take us to solid, scientifically informed conclusions about how to beat the challenges of the epidemic.

Nokubonga – Asanda – Musa – Portia – Wendy – Masizole – Vuyo – Luckyboy

Nokubonga Yawa

“Embrace what life has given you today as you never know what tomorrow might bring. Use the power that you’ve got to make a change.”

At the age of 15, Nokubonga “Bonga” Yawa’s life changed dramatically. She fell pregnant and her subsequent HIV test came back positive.

She joined a PMTCT (Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission) support group, which gave her support and strength and when she was eight months pregnant she was able to take AZT and give birth to an HIV negative baby girl, Sinaye, now seven years old.

Bonga decided to join a support group and learn more about HIV & AIDS. She wanted to empower herself and prevent others from getting HIV. In order to break down widespread stigma, she has been open about her status.

“I joined TAC (the Treatment Action Campaign) in 2004 and started attending Saturday workshops. I also joined a group for teenage mothers where we were taught a range of skills.” Nokubonga was a full-time volunteer before taking up paid positions for her work.

When CMT approached her to feature in a Siyayinqoba Beat It! show on teenage pregnancy in 2007, the charismatic young woman with a ready smile, agreed to share her story to reach young people beyond the Western Cape. CMT subsequently asked her to become the host for Siyayinqoba Beat It! in 2009. “I’m not a trained journalist but I do my work whole-heartedly!”

Nokubonga receives lots of letters from viewers, comments on Facebook as well as phone calls in response to every Siyayinqoba Beat It! show. “Some have told me that I am the only reason they take their treatment, the only one doing something for them. But there are many people who fought for access to ARVs, this is my way of contributing,” she explains. “And I must make sure that those who are HIV negative stay like that!”

Some of the topics Nokubonga feels strongest about are gender violence, abuse and education: “Children and teenagers really need someone to talk to about sex,” Nokubonga argues. “It doesn’t help to be shouted at and avoid the issues. If parents were more involved it would make a difference.”

At present, she is working full time as a youth group leader at Equal Education (EE), an NGO, which is working for quality and equality in South African education. A lot of children at confide in her; some have told her they are gay and fear coming out to their families or communities.

As a young person who has received counselling, accepted her status and is openly living with HIV, she is a role model to the community. Nokubonga has been on ARV treatment since 2005 and by sharing her story she encourages, inspires and motivates people around her: “I want to show people our humanity. That we are equal, we can work and are valuable members of this society.”

Asanda Naketi

Born in Mthatha, Eastern Cape, Asanda Naketi is a bubbly 24 year-old who matriculated in 2005 at St John’s College and then went on to do her National Diploma in Journalism at Walter Sisulu University in Mthatha. Her career choice was influenced by the rich history of her country. “I strongly believe that the media is a vital instrument for reconciliation, reconstruction and rehabilitation.” She also believes that the media should be proactive in its coverage of conflicts and be a key player in the resolution of such conflicts.

She started to work for Grocott’s Mail, Grahamstown’s bi-weekly newspaper, in July 2009, where she developed a flair for the written word. Besides a few front pagers under her belt she gained experience in court reporting, sports, entertainment, health and general reporting.

Asanda joined CMT in February 2010 as a community journalist and has gained the skills of presenting stories, operating the camera, researching stories and interviewing people on issues surrounding HIV.

Working for CMT has made Asanda realise that she can be a tool in the betterment of life, especially for people affected and infected by the virus. “I have realised that it is easier to talk about the virus from a distance but when you are closer, it’s a completely different story.”

Having grown up in a single-parented household with her mother being her pillar of strength and support, Asanda couldn’t help but feel saddened by a story of a 12-year old in Queenstown. Yola Mtshayi, a young woman living with HIV, lost her mother due to HIV/AIDS related illnesses. “Before I met her, I felt sorry for her; to have lost a mother at birth and living with HIV at such a young age,” says Asanda. “All of that changed when I met her, she doesn’t feel sorry for herself, nor does she want people to feel sorry for her. I couldn’t help but feel blessed to have met her,” she says.

Asanda’s hobbies include writing, drama, photography and debating; which she declares has been the finest investment of her time and effort and has helped to shape her character.

Musa Eugene Nkuna

Musa Eugene Nkuna, 23, grew up in Soweto in a neighbourhood called Fox Lake.

Musa, who has two brothers, did most of his schooling at La Salle College in Florida before moving to Sir John Adamson in the South, Ridgeway. “I was an avid soccer player throughout my years of school.” Other extramural activities he was involved in were singing in a church choir, debating, swimming, cricket, chess and tennis as well as playing a mean game of pool, which saw him representing Gauteng.

Before studying media, Musa studied Sports Management at the University of Johannesburg for two years. He was lucky to get his mother, a cancer survivor and one of his greatest inspirations, to support him to sign up for media studies at Boston Media House, where he majored in video.

What made him want to become a journalist, focusing on HIV & AIDS? “My aunt succumbed to its devastating nature and as long as there is a fellow human being suffering from the adverse effects of this pandemic, it is an issue that affects all of us,” he maintains.

Musa values the experience he has gotten through Siyayinqoba as immeasurable: “What CMT does is hone into the community by showing real people with real stories to tell and for that I am grateful I got a chance to be a part of that.”

“Through education, destigmatising, funding, the availability of medicines across the colour spectrum, there’s no reason why HIV couldn’t be seen as a sugar diabetes or high blood pressure, even flu.”

The main challenge he has faced working for Siyayinqoba has been generating the substantial amount of research that is required for each show.

“This job has further enlightened me about the struggles and challenges faced by positive people and this has helped me to better sympathise and understand what they are going through.”

Musa still does music and graphic design for the love of it and is constantly writing. His long-term aspiration is to edit and assist directing music videos, direct feature films and he plans to produce two documentaries.

Portia Mogosetsi

Portia Mogosetsi was born and raised in Ga-Rankuwa, a township located about 37km north of Pretoria. She has a twin brother and four older sisters and has always had an interest in the development and well-being of individuals and communities. A good student at school, she pursued personal, extramural interests and got involved in committee work as well as church from a young age.

After completing her Matric, Portia moved to Johannesburg and enrolled for a Journalism degree at the University of Johannesburg. She chose this career path, certain that it would lead her to her dream of telling people’s stories and giving the marginalised a voice of their own.

In November 2009, a few months after completing her degree, she applied for a position as a Gauteng-based Siyayinqoba community journalist and started in February 2010.

Among her biggest challenges has been finding people who are willing to go on national TV with their stories.

Asked how she felt about her job, the 24 year old said that her work contributed to raising awareness and breaking stigma.

As a journalist, Portia is also acting as a mouthpiece and an advocate for the rights of those who have been ostracized and forgotten by mainstream society due to HIV; be it children, caregivers, people in rural areas and people of all races and gender.

While doing research, Portia has ventured to the scariest townships, places she never thought she’d set foot in, including prisons and learnt a lot about HIV/AIDS. “My knowledge of HIV/AIDS has increased and I’ve become more aware of other people’s needs in society. I’m more open to discuss and talk about issues that I wouldn’t have been comfortable speaking about before.”

Portia has also seized opportunities and even made friends: “Her name is Thuli Madikane. Despite her HIV status and a few near-death experiences, you will always find her wearing a smile. She is jolly, positive, funny and inspirational. As a result, I’ve stayed in contact with her and we’ve become good friends.”

Portia wants to pursue a career in filmmaking and photography, aiming to destroy social ills and improving social development through the medium of cinematography.

Wendy Kumalo

Wendy “Kumar” Kumalo was born in Khanya Village just outside Pietermaritzburg, known as Cedara, an area known for its agriculture.

In 2002, the whole family relocated to Mpophomeni, a township near Howick, where she attended Mpophomeni High School.

Life was not easy for her and her family. Wendy’s mom raised her and her two younger siblings with the money she managed to get from temporary jobs. Through all the difficult times her mom taught her and her family to believe in Jehovah, God and to live with what they had.

Seeing the silence and fear of people around her community to talk about HIV & AIDS and issues concerning gender violence, she decided to do more to break the silence and be the voice of the voiceless. After matriculating in 2006, she studied journalism at Varsity College in Pietermaritzburg from 2007 to 2008.

During that time, she worked as a general reporter for Umlilo News a community newspaper. Wendy was excited about writing and breaking the silence with the stories she covered. But things were not easy as she was receiving threats from community members as she was covering stories they didn’t want to talk about.

However, that did not get her down. She worked for the Echo Newspaper then Edendale Eyethu, falling in love with covering news around her community tackling gender violence, HIV & AIDS and municipality issues.

She started working as a Community Journalist for CMT in January 2009, excited about being able to fulfill her dream of being a voice for the voiceless in a broader way, covering stories from all over KwaZulu-Natal.

Wendy gets her inspiration from telling stories about ordinary people, who, through courage, overcome their challenges. She believes that as journalists we have “Great power, which comes with great responsibility.”

She feels strongly about gender violence and HIV related issues, and sees Siyayinqoba as a platform to break the silence in our communities. “If you and I don’t talk about it, then the person next to you won’t either”.

Being with Siyayinqoba for almost two years has taught Wendy a lot regarding HIV & AIDS treatment literacy and camera work, with such experience she wishes to do more.

Masizole Gonyela

Masizole Gonyela was born in 1981 in an area not too big to be called a town but too small to be labelled a village: Steynsburg. He spent his early years in this poverty-struck area with high levels of unemployment.

Here, liquor is viewed as therapeutic to the economic problems endured by its citizen and crime and domestic violence is likely to emerge.

At a young age, he witnessed domestic violence within his household for the first time – his father held his mother at gun point over an argument they had. This remains an anchor to his sense of activism today.

On the basis of his experiences and activism that came from within he pursued legal studies for a while (2001-2003). He subsequently decided to fight and protect human’s rights with everything he has. This was at the time when HIV was spreading like wild fire and people were dying at an alarming rate but few were willing to talk about it.

Masizole joined the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) in 2004, working first as a Treatment Literacy Practitioner, mobilising communities and educating them about HIV prevention and related issues, then as a TAC trainer, advocating for change in health policies and availability and accessibility of ARV drugs.

Masizole was also involved in the big march to Frontier Hospital: “Although the protestors were brutally beaten up by the police, at the end we were victors. This march opened gates and saved lives for many who needed adequate health services including access to ARV’s.”

After serving as a TAC community journalist, Masizolile has been serving as a journalist for CMT for almost two years, trying to change people’s perception of HIV and AIDS, giving hope where there’s none, advocating for new and better drugs, campaigning for better health services for all and wrestling with violence against women and children.

Masizole enjoys spending his leisure time in a gym. He is happily married with kids of his own. “I intend not just to be a father to my kids but to be a parent to them and not just a husband to my wife but her friend and treat her with the dignity and respect she deserves”.

Vuyo Nibe

Luvuyo Nibe was born in Port Elizabeth. He applied to become a Community Journalist because he enjoys communicating with people about their problems and helping them find solutions. Being a Siyayinqoba Beat It! CJ has given him the opportunity to inform people about the danger of HIV and other diseases. It also allows him to help others face and admit their problems and challenges. Being a CJ has also boosted his confidence because the job requires him to be in contact with people all the time.

Luckyboy Edison Mkhondwane

Lucky, who has extensive experience working as an HCT counselor, Prevention and Treatment Literacy coordinator and who was part of the Siyayinqoba Beat It! support group in 2008, is a preferred Gauteng spokesperson for the show.

Luckyboy “Lucky” Edison Mkhondwane is currently the Prevention and Treatment Literacy Coordinator for the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) Ekurhuleni district in Gauteng. “I have been a Prevention and Treatment Literacy coordinator since April 2008. My responsibility is to do pre and post test counselling for patients requesting HIV tests and educating pregnant women on Prevention of Mother To child Transmission (PMTCT).”

Prior to his current position Lucky has worked as a HCT counsellor at Sead Clinic in Duduza from 2002 to 2003 before moving on to being part of the Treatment Literacy Team at TAC in 2004. He was promoted to the position of Provincial Trainer in 2005 and subsequently became their Prevention and Treatment Literacy coordinator in April 2008.

Lucky was born on 28 January 1976 in a small town called Duduza about 40 kilometers East of Johannesburg where he still resides with his mom and two siblings. He is an openly gay male, living openly with HIV since his diagnosis in June 2002 and has a great passion for advocating access to treatment and human rights. He is one of the Does HIV Look Like Me Ambassadors, a campaign aimed at HIV awareness and positive living for young people, run by the US-based organization Hope’s Voice and also one of the Ambassadors in the Positive Heroes campaign.

His interests include reading, writing, surfing the net, photography and when he still had more leisure time Lucky used to play ice hockey. He has written articles for community newspapers and the TAC Magazine and Newsletter. He was a member of the Siyayinqoba Beat It! support group in 2008, which discussed a wide array of issues from personal experiences to broader issues regarding treatment and TB, dual treatment being introduced to the whole country, as well as the business sector’s involvement with HIV and AIDS. Here are some excerpts of Lucky’s views on a selection of topics the group discussed.

On transactional and intergenerational sex:

“I’m not a woman but I was once involved with someone older than me. What made me stick to the relationship was that I got something from him. You know when you’re young it’s all about fitting in with nice jeans and fancy shoes, not that my parents couldn’t afford to buy me those things, but because I want more, I found myself in that relationship… but you don’t show your love for a person by giving them money.

To all the young people that are in relationships with older partners, you have to stick to the partner that is for condom use because this is your life and you have to take responsibility for it.”

On condom use:

“I believe using condoms does not make you less of a man. You have to use a condom whether you’re positive or negative. I wouldn’t be able to live my life knowing that I’ve infected someone else.”

On circumcision:

“Circumcision is not something that we should think of as the magic pill. Men should still use condoms even if they’re circumcised because there’s only a 50% chance of not contracting HIV. So using condoms remains vital because you can still get HIV after circumcision.”

Lucky loves learning new languages, his mother tongue is isiZulu, he speaks English, isiXhosa and seSotho and would like to have his many journals, collected over the years, to eventually become a book: “I started keeping a journal when I was fourteen years old and have been putting my thoughts, poetry and anything that I have been feeling or going through over the time in it.”