Nomajoni Mafanya
More than 13 years ago, Nomajoni Mafanya, like so many underprivileged South Africans, was faced with a life-changing experience when her son contracted HIV/Aids.
Not knowing what to do and feeling desperate, Nomajoni turned to FAMSA (Family and Marriage Association of South Africa) for support. After opening up about her situation in a group therapy session, Nomajoni realised how widespread the Aids issue was and how difficult it was for people to speak about. FAMSA arranged for an expert to counsel Nomajoni — a luxury experienced by few.
Nomajoni's willingness to deal with her family's situation, and acquire information and skills to deal with it, was inspiring, particularly in a community that largely denied the problem. She started one-on-one counselling with sufferers on an informal basis and gradually word spread and more people expressed a desire to speak about their problems. When an HIV/Aids clinic opened in the area, Nomajoni offered her services, and it wasn't long before she became one of the first counsellors in the townships that specialised in pre- and post-diagnosis counselling.
In the beginning, Nomajoni found it emotionally challenging to separate herself from her patients. The cases were demanding and, in many instances, the HIV/Aids sufferers had no family members to turn to. Her biggest challenge was getting the community to seek counselling.
Another challenge Nomajoni still faces is demystifying popular and widespread myths held by the community about HIV/Aids, the most serious of which is that having intercourse with a virgin can cure a victim of the disease. This has led to cases of men raping teenage or pre-pubescent girls. In addition, Nomajoni faces a community that is largely opposed to contraception and unreceptive to talks about unsafe sex. The problem is immense and, at times, Nomajoni finds it difficult to remain hopeful. She needs to reach more people, more quickly, and more effectively.
Since joining the Rainbow Centre in Gugulethu, one of the first of Ikamva Labantu's planned Integrated Community Centres, Nomajoni found an audience as well as a host of new tools that make the delivery of her message more effective. At the end of last year, as part of Ikamva Labantu's education initiative, an HIV/Aids counsellor came to speak to Nomajoni about the latest techniques in HIV/Aids counselling. Known as 'Calling the Rain', the technique involves learning through storytelling. In the four months since being introduced to this technique, which has been extremely well received, Nomajoni has already spread her message to hundreds of people and, in addition, has trained two counsellors in this method, both of whom have found permanent positions with HIV/Aids clinics in the area. For the first time in ages, Nomajoni feels hopeful about her community's future.
Even though she is now a senior member of the community, Nomajoni is more energetic and enthusiastic than ever. An unwavering pillar of support, this pensioner's dedication to uplifting her community is a shining example of kindness and social accountability. Here's to Nomajoni — our hero.