Farewell, Vuyani Jacobs

One of South Africa’s heroes in the great struggle for HIV treatment: a stalwart of the Treatment Action Campaign, presenter for Siyayinqoba Beat It! – and a truly lovely man.

Ulale ngoxolo Vuyani Jacobs
It is with great sadness that I learnt this morning that Vuyani Jacobs passed away last night after a long struggle with meningitis. Vuyani was a colleague, friend and comrade. From the early days at MSF and in Siyayinqoba Beat It and on many platforms he fought bravely for the rights of PLWHAs and for human rights broadly for many years. His political understanding and sense of the moment was invaluable in the struggle for PWA rights and access to treatment. There is so much one can say and I will write at greater length later. – Jack Lewis (director)
Vuyani tested positive for HIV early in the 1990s. Believing he didn’t have long to live, he quit his job and spent his days at home watching television. Channel hopping he came across a TV programme in which a beautiful African woman was speaking openly and without fear about her HIV positive status. That show was Beat It! and it changed Vuyani’s life. He got off the couch and went in search of information around HIV/AIDS. He became a member of the Treatment Action Campaign, started taking ARVs and eventually ended up co-presenting the 2002 season of Beat It! with Nombeko Mpongo and featuring as a regular member of the Siyayinqoba Beat It! support group until 2006.

(From the Beat It! website)

I would like to thank all the people who send out condolences messages or called us during our time of mourning. And to all those who prayed for us I say thank you very much and Vuyani would have been happy with the sending off he received from his dearest friends and colleagues.

Article By: Luvo Jacobs

Let Aberdeen Celebrate Mr Vuyani Jacobs' Life

Let uJama kasi Jadu go but forget him not...

When I, Vuyani Jacobs, come to the end of the road

and the sun has set for me,
I want no rites in a gloom-filled room.
Aberdeen..... Why cry for a soul set free?
I Zizi liyaphumla nto zakuthi!

Ndiyekeni ndiphumle mzi ka Phalo.
Miss me a little - but not too long
And not with your head bowed low.

Miss unyana ka Thamsanqa but let u Dlamini u Jama kasi Jadu go.
For this is a journey that we all must take!!

Please don't ask how he die, but how did u Dlamini live?
Don't weep at my grave for I am not there 'cause I have

a date with a butterfly to dance in the air.
I will be singing in the sunshine, wild and free playing tag

with the wind while I am waiting for thee.

Aberdeen, my dorpie, do not stand at my grave and weep

for I, Vuyani Jacobs, am not there, I do not sleep.
U Jama kasi Jadu is a diamond that glints on snow.

Yes I thought the life would last forever, I was wrong.

U Vuyani akafanga kuba ulele yena.

Akafanga u Vuyani kuba akakwazi ukufa.
U Jama kasi Jadu akanakufa ngokuba akafi.

Yes Dlamini, Jama, Zizi elihle we shall find peace. We shall hear angels, we shall see the sky sparkling with diamonds. Lala ngoxolo nyana wothuthu nyana womgquba. Rest in peace, Son of the Soil.

Article By: Lulamile Klassen

New “Advertiser” Correspondent in Aberdeen

The Graaff-Reinet Advertiser is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr Peter Shaw as its official correspondent in Aberdeen, following the resignation of Ms Joan Tinker.
Shaw, who runs his own internet blog, has to his credit a couple of novels and hundreds of articles, including several articles for this newspaper, book reviews, and similar features. He co-owns with his wife the well known bookshop in Aberdeen, which also publishes its own newsletter.
Before coming to Aberdeen a couple of years ago, he ran a bookshop and a bookbinding workshop in Johannesburg, which did a lot of work for Wits University, large legal practices, as well as students and book collectors. His wife, Sue, is an avid photographer and scrapbooker, and has promised to assist – Shaw himself is partially deaf.
Organizers of local events, and in fact anyone with a newsworthy local story, should contact Peter or Sue at the bookshop or on 083 794 2262.
Article By: Peter Shaw

Starkie Visits Aberdeen For Opening Of Tuinroete Agri's New Premises

Starkie the ladybird, from Starke Ayres, handed out sweets to some of the local children of Aberdeen on the occasion of the official opening of the new Tuinroete Agri premises.

A lucky draw was also held on the day for a gardening hamper from Starke Ayres in conjunction with Tuinroete Agri; the prize winner being Mrs Mabel Joubert of Aberdeen.

Article Submission By: Merril Moolman

World Cup Fever Hits Aberdeen

To celebrate the start of the SWC, the Samaritans in Aberdeen staged a march through the town centre, Thembalesizwe and Lotusville.

Departing from the Masakhane Clinic, the procession maintained a slow but steady pace through the town, gathering more and more supporters along the way. Despite the bitterly cold weather, the streets were filled with supporters.

Led by the local Traffic Department, the marchers were greeted with cheers and support from residents waving flags and wearing their soccer jerseys.

Shouts of "Can you feel it?" and "It's here!!" accompanied by dozens of vuvuzelas filled the air.

The local branch of PEP stores also got into the spirit of the World Cup with all their staff dressed in Bafana Bafana gear.

The spirit of the SWC is well and truly present in Aberdeen!!

Viva Bafana Bafana! Viva!

Article By: Samantha Jankovich