Sunday Times (Johannesburg) - September 23, 2007

Mazwi-Tanga is not the only rectorate member to have taken the test in the past week. Dr Mandla Tshabalala, deputy vice-chancellor: student affairs, and Professor Anthony Staak, deputy vice-chancellor: academic, took tests at the Cape Town campus's Student Centre. Professor Johannes Cronje, the new dean of informatics and design, also took the test.

The institution's HIV/Aids Unit said the fact that the rectorate took time to take part showed how seriously they regarded the campaign.

Close to 1000 students, and a sprinkling of staff members, took tests at both the Cape Town and Bellville campuses.

Asked why he supported the Each One Reach Five campaign, Staak said it was important in bringing about awareness and giving students the opportunity to take the first step towards knowing their status.

"It starts with a test, after which you know your status and can then decide how to lead your life. It is important for students to participate in this drive given the extent of the HIV/Aids pandemic," he said.

Tshabalala said he had decided to be tested because he supported the campaign and because it was important for management at institutions of higher learning to support such campaigns.

"HIV/Aids is a pandemic for the country and it is important that we support initiatives that create more awareness about it," he said.

Ashraf Mohammed, HIV/ Aids co-ordinator at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, said 980 students took tests during the four-day drive. Of these, 728 were females while 252 were males.

"The drive was overwhelmingly successful. The sad point though is that we would have loved to have more males testing," he said.

Mohammed attributed the success of the campaign to, among other things, the participation of more than 20 HIV/Aids peer educators and the Bongani Musical outfit, which visited residences conveying information about the campaign. - Thami Nkwanyane and Liziwe Ndalana

How to Join the Campaign:

Take an HIV test and get five other people to do the same. Make it clear that no one has to disclose their results.

Let us know why you decided to join the campaign and how you felt when you took the test. We would welcome any stories about the experiences you have while participating in the campaign. Send your stories - with pictures if possible - to: reach5@sundaytimes.co.za

Send us your name and the names of your five nominees so that we can publish a list of South Africans who have taken part. Please note, we do not want to know the results of anyone's test.

You can get tested at your doctor or local clinic. For a list of clinics go to www.sundaytimes.co.za/vct

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