PRESS RELEASE

Show Me Your Number hands over HIV icons paintings to SANAC Johannesburg, Wednesday, 30 September 2020 Show Me Your Number (SMYN) handed over 4 paintings by Jakes Mbele to the SANAC Trust’s Acting CEO, Ms. Coiceka Nogoduka. The creative master pieces are a contribution by Show Me Your Number in its capacity as SANAC Civil Society Forum (CSF) Sports, Art and Culture Sector participant organisation and national secretariat. The art works will be placed in 4 boardrooms at SANAC head offices in Hatfield in response to HIV, Aids and TB aligned to the 90-90-90 strategy and the NSP 2017 to 2022. The 4 portraits are that of Nelson Mandela, Gugu Dlamini, Prudence Mabele and Nkosi Johnson with each boardroom named after these icons. These South African iconic figures have played a significant role globally by raising awareness on HIV at the height of stigma and discrimination against People Living with HIV. They challenged the status quo and changed health national policies. These works of art also represent the different boardroom in the SANAC office and which embodies the personalities of the icons. Ms. Coceka Noguduka in receiving the portraits narrated the contribution these icons. She also shared fond memories captured Prudence Mabele’s feisty spirit. Ms Noguduka said of Prudence that “She was well known by all Ministers of Health in South Africa. She addressed access to health care as well as stigma and discrimination issues in boardrooms and at internal HIV and AIDS conferences on behalf of women living with HIV”. These images are a constant reminder to all to hold in high regard the principles and level of integrity of these icons in their conversation in response to HIV, TB and STI burden in South Africa. Creative Director and artist responsible for painting the drawings, Mr. Jake Mbele, is no stranger to the HIV response. As a part of the World AIDS Day in 2019 hosted in North West in Dr. Kenneth Kaunda District under the theme “Communities make the Difference” Jakes worked in collaboration with Artron Moabi created the #PaintingCommunitiesRED wall art mural in Jouberton. The mural is now a local attraction with messages about HIV, TB and roles of communities and different sectors. Jake loves all the artworks however it was rather difficult to work on the Gugu Dlamini portrait which according to him “Once research was done on her story and from start to finish, I found it challenging to comprehend how violent our society could be towards a woman just because she had HIV. She was killed because people stigmatized her HIV status. Those were the dark days and I realise that stigma and discrimination continue to hamper progress in responding to HIV even today. Completion of these artwork reflects my commitment to eradicate stigma and discrimination one brush stroke at a time.” Mr Mabalane Mfundisi, Show Me Your Number (SMYN) Executive Director and SANAC Civil Society Forum (CSF) Sports, Arts Culture sector leader mentioned that “more needs to be done to bring the sport, arts & culture to reduce stigma and discrimination and contribute to social cohesion at local levels. We believe that incorporating sport, arts and culture is critical to drive important conversations and transcend over diverse groups in South Africa in advocating for the access to health care rights for key and vulnerable people”. ENDS# For more information, contact: Palesa Komane Operations & Communications Manager 081 373 3109 palesa@showmeyournumber.org.za About Show Me Your Number Show Me Your Number has been appointed as the SR implementing the Stigma & Discrimination component of the Human Rights module by the AIDS Foundation South Africa (AFSA) which is the Primary Recipient (PR). Show Me Your Number (SMYN) is a not-for-profit company that seeks to reduce new HIV and TB infections eradicate stigma and discrimination and contribute towards social cohesion by using the platform of sport, arts & culture as a vehicle to raise awareness through training, community engagement and edutainment. Show Me Your Number also uses the power of sports, arts and culture for demand creation for HIV and TB counselling, testing and prevention. SMYN is a member of the SANAC Civil Society Forum (CSF) advisory body by the South African National AIDS Council to facilitate the participation of Civil Society Organisations and networks, including those representing People Living with HIV, in the HIV and AIDS and TB within the National HIV response and for the implementations thereof National Strategic Plan (NSP) 2012-2016 through Sectors. In 2016, Show Me Your Number NPC registered a wholly owned private company named SMYN (Pty) LTD as a commercial entity through which it provides consulting services and other related services. The main aim of this private company is to source commercial projects through which the work of Show Me Your Number NPC will be supported (funded).