Millions of women in Africa are living on their own Robben Islands, imprisoned — and often in solitary confinement — because of the Aids virus, former South African president Nelson Mandela said on Saturday.
At his second concert to raise awareness of Aids, held at Fancourt Golf Estate in George, Mandela told a crowd of about 20 000 that the pandemic, which has infected about 25-million people in Africa, “carries the face of women” who bear the brunt both in terms of sickness and caring for the sick.
“Today, there are millions of women in Africa living on their own Robben Islands, struggling against terrible odds, alone and often without much hope,” said the remote island’s most famous former inmate.
“Tonight, you and I can say we are here to help give you hope and strength,” he said to rapturous crowds at the 46664 concert, named after his prisoner number while he was incarcerated for 27 years for his fight against white racist rule.
At his side was Gertrude Maqanda, a woman from a poor township near the popular tourist coastal resort of George. Infected with the virus in 1999, she nearly died last year until she received anti-retroviral treatment. She listed the names of friends too sick to travel to the concert and told her children she was glad to be alive.
“I love you very much,” she said, prompting a temporary hush in the crowd and an emotional embrace from the master of ceremonies, superstar Will Smith.
This year’s event highlighted the plight of women and girls, who are six times more likely to be infected with the Aids virus than men in South Africa.
A staggering 38% of pregnant women are infected in the worst-hit province of KwaZulu-Natal. Overall, an estimated 5,3-million of South Africa’s 45-million people live with HIV, more than in any other country. Between 600 and 1 000 are dying every day from Aids-related diseases, according to United Nations figures.
The toll far outstrips the 21 000 South Africans killed in political violence during four decades of racist white rule.
The concert opened with a warning from singer Annie Lennox that millions are probably carrying the disease without knowing it.
“We’re at war, but this nation is asleep. Get yourself tested. Sex without a condom can serve the death sentence,” the former Eurythmics vocalist said.
“In Africa, more people are wiped out by Aids every year than in the entire Asian tsunami disaster,” said Lennox, declaring this to be the equivalent of “mass genocide”.
“For every 10 who are infected, six are women,” she said. “In this society, women are powerless and vulnerable to the whims of men who refuse to practice safe sex and use condoms.”
Star after star at the concert appealed to men to take responsibility and stop unsafe sex — and to women to stand up for their rights.
“I want you to use your power to stay alive,” shouted Jada Pinkett Smith, wife of Will. The American actor and singer appealed for more global awareness of the devastation wreaked by Aids in Africa — and wowed the capacity crowd with a feisty return to his rapper roots.
Other celebrities included British sensation Katie Melua, Grammy nominee India.Arie and surviving members of the group Queen, whose lead singer Freddie Mercury died of Aids.
Heartthrob actor Brad Pitt sent a video message to the concert, which included television viewers throughout Africa. He apologised for not being able to attend.
He and Will Smith are among a growing number of high-profile celebrities from around the world who have given their time as ambassadors for the 46664 campaign since its launch in late 2003.
The event was staged at one of the world’s most luxurious golf estates — far removed from the poverty surrounding many victims afflicted with HIV. The estate’s owner, German billionaire Hasso Plattner, pledged to underwrite all costs, thus avoiding the financial headaches that plagued the first — more spectacular — 46664 concert in Cape Town in 1993.
Mandela, who lost his eldest son to the disease earlier this year, said that R10-million was raised during the evening by people donating R20 by sending SMSes with their names to the 46664 number.
Since stepping down as South Africa’s first black president in 1999, Mandela has championed the cause of Aids victims.
“You may well ask, what is this old-age pensioner doing here tonight, when he is supposed to have retired,” said the 86-year-old.
“Yes, I would love to enjoy the peace and quiet of retirement, but I know that like many of you, I cannot rest easily while our beloved continent is ravaged by a deadly epidemic.” — Sapa-AP, Sapa-DPA
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46664 Campaign