Sunday Times (Johannesburg) - Sunday 01 December 2002
Karen Van Rooyen

Brothers Eben , 11, and Ruben Blanckenberg, 8, last saw each other in February this year. They were separated when their HIV-positive mother died.

The two boys, who do not have the disease, were sent to live with different relatives and had not seen each other since.

But on Friday they were reunited in Paarl, where they met Father Christmas, who had been brought in by the management and workers of the packaging company Versapak.

The company's 320 employees decided to give up their year-end party and instead use the money to throw a bash for 120 children, complete with piles of food, face-painting and loads of presents from Father Christmas. T he children are all Aids orphans or living with the disease.

Along with the money earmarked for the party, the company raised R250 000. It will be used for a party in Johannesburg later this month when another 250 children will have the same treat.

The rest of the money will be used to support various HIV/Aids organisations that receive no help from the government.

Plans include the restoration of a derelict house in Rustenburg that will accommodate about 400 children, and the construction of a crech in Paarl.

Alec Amerika, a social worker from Atlantis, said the Blanckenberg boys and many other children in similar situations would not have had any Christmas cheer were it not for the selflessness of the company's staff.

"Some of them would not have received gifts," he said.

The unusual Christmas tale began in March when a veteran sales consultant, Anna Moseko, died of complications related to HIV/Aids.

Versapak managing director Mark Thatcher had not known that she was living with the disease and was shocked to learn how she had died.

"She had Aids and I didn't even know . . . It's distressing to me when the stigma attached to having Aids prevents one from talking to others about it," he said.

Thatcher said he made it his personal mission after Moseko's death to learn more about the virus. "I asked [the union] if they would be prepared to sacrifice their Christmas function and they said 'yes'," said Thatcher.

Union shop steward Edward Noble said the workers had initially been hesitant to forfeit their party, but soon realised that it was for a good cause.

"It came as a surprise to the workers when we approached them in September . . . They were already planning what to do and what they were going to wear," said Noble. "But when we explained to them what it was for, they agreed. They were prepared to sacrifice whatever we would have spent on their party. "

And now the employees are already thinking about next year's party. "We are hoping to extend it to cancer and TB patients."

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