Press Releases & Media Statements

Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka and UN WOMEN discriminate sex workers by calling them “prostitutes” in 2020 Johannesburg, Sunday, 26 July 2020 Show Me Your Number is disappointed in the former Deputy President of South Africa and current Executive Director of UN Women, Ms. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka’s comments on sex work and about sex workers. When she was the Deputy President of South Africa, Mlambo-Ngcuka served as the Chairperson of the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC) where she championed the rights of sex workers to be included in SANAC so that they can be heard and be part of solutions to ending HIV. We ask ourselves what has made her change that position that now she is the Executive Director of UN WOMEN. Mlambo-Ngcuka allegedly said in a UN Women webinar on Monday, 20 July 2020 that all women within the sex industry were victims and those paying for the services were perpetrators. Click here to read the full release…

TLD (Tenofovir + Lamivudine + Dolutegravir) regiment is the best solution for people living with TB, HIV 22 May 2020 SANAC Civil Society Forum, a constituent member of the Community Constituency Covid19 Front (CCCF) in responding to the statement by the Gauteng Health Department on Tuesday, 19 May 2020 that over 11 thousand of TB and HIV-positive patients have failed to collect their medication since the start of the lockdown on 27 March 2020 is an issue that requires a combination of treatment literacy and ongoing social mobilisation for those infected, their families and communities. Adherence to treatment is the bedrock of gains made in South Africa’s response to HIV and TB as outlined in the National Strategic Plan on HIV, TB & STIs. Click here to read to read the full release…

Covid-19 Risk for 7,5 million People Living With HIV in South Africa April 2020 Goal 3 of the South Africa’s National Strategic Plan for HIV, TB and STIs 2017 - 2022 stipulates that we reach all Key and vulnerable population with customised and targeted interventions. During this time we should remain steadfast in protecting our People living with HIV (PLHIV). We ask that we all stay in your homes so that we are able to reduce the spread of Covid19 and the risk of secondary infection to PLHIV. There is no evidence that the risk of infection or complications of COVID-19 is different among people living with HIV who are on antiretroviral treatment when compared with the general population. Click here to read more…

Show Me Your Number hands over HIV icons paintings to SANAC Johannesburg, Wednesday, 30 September 2020 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. Click here to read the full release…

Lethukhukhanaya Health Instititution address Human Rights Violations by Sex Workers as contribution to end HIV & AIDS Johannesburg, Monday, 30 November 2020 Human Rights Implementing Partner Organisation IPO Lethukhukhanaya Health Institution is one of four host organisation in City of Johannesburg in the World Aids Day 2020 Policy in Action activity programme. Their role is to reduce Stigma and Discrimination in response to HIV, Aids and TB as stipulated by the 90-90-90 strategy and the NSP 2017 to 2022 at district level. The Deputy President of South Africa, David Dabede Mabuza, is the current Chairperson of the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC). The Deputy President will visit community project as part of the POLICY IN ACTION to see how the World AIDS Day 2020 theme “WE’RE IN THIS TOGETHER, CHEKA IMPILO” is finding expression through implementation of by civil society organisations. Click here to read the full release…

Show Me Your Number and Dumakahle using the power of music to eradicate stigma and discrimination in support of People Living with HIV Johannesburg, Monday, 5 October 2020 Show Me Your Number has forged a new partnership with Dumakahle Entertainment in the response to eradicate stigma and discrimination by strengthening voices of Key Populations at district level. Mpilo Seluleko Nkosi, CEO of Dumakahle, Maskandi Producer and song writer of the master piece “Angimazi ubaba Wengane” was approached by IPO Support Officer Siphamandla ‘Desh’ Dlhamini as our Human Rights Ambassadors to use the power of music to educated communities on HIV and TB prevention, testing and screening as well as adherence to treatment. Click here to read the full release…

Traditional Leaders Launch the Communities Matter Survey in 20 Districts Johannesburg, Monday, 30 November 2020 Traditional Leaders sector launched the Communities Matter Survey in 20 Districts, supported by the South African National AIDS Council Civil Society Forum (SANAC CSF) by 25 sector leaders approached the UN Agencies through the Office of the South African UN Resident Coordinator for support of the Community Based Measures Strategy for COVID-19. The Traditional Leaders sector with its Chiefs mobilised 50 mobilisers in all 9 provinces and operational in 20 districts. The objective is to implement Advocacy, Social Mobilisation and Communications & Public Awareness aspects of the Community Based Measures Strategy for COVID-19. Click here to read the full release…

Minister of Health appoints new Council for medical schemes regulator Pretoria, Thursday, 3 December 2020 The Minister of Health, Dr Zweli Mkhize has announced the new Council for the Council for Medical Schemes (CMS), taking into account the interests of members and medical schemes. The 15-head strong structure is empowered by the Medical Schemes Act (131 of 1998) and represents a variety of skills and backgrounds, and include experts in law, finance, actuarial sciences, economics, medical sciences, corporate governance and consumer affairs. Click here to read the full release…

You are invited to the WEBINAR I AM HUMAN – Breaking down barriers and standing up for Human Rights Thursday, 10 December 2020 at 17h30 Tune in to the live stream through the following platforms as we reflect on what we have done to address Human Rights as we navigate our way through COVID-19: Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89438790359?pwd=NEtjRlBEUE w1emF0dENaRnVITDJ5QT09 Facebook: www.facebook.com/showmeyournumber Twitter: www.twitter.com/SMYN_Ndorondoro Instagram: www.instagram.com/showmeyournumber Host: Palesa Komane Speakers: • Thabo Majuja • Belinda Lerutoane • IPO representative (tbc) • Legal practitioners (tbc) BACKGROUND This year’s International Human Rights Day theme relates to the COVID-19 pandemic and focuses on the need to build back better by ensuring Human Rights are central to recovery efforts. We will reach our common global goals only if we are able to create equal opportunities for all, address the failures exposed and exploited by COVID-19, and apply human rights standards to tackle entrenched, systematic, and intergenerational inequalities, exclusion and discrimination. 10 December is an opportunity to reaffirm the importance of human rights in re-building the world we want, the need for global solidarity as well as our interconnectedness and shared humanity. Under UN Human Rights’ generic call to action “Stand Up for Human rights” and South Africa’s Breaking down barriers to address Human Rights, Show Me Your Number together with the 25 Implementing Partner Organisations and other partners it works with on implementing the Stigma & Discrimination will be reflecting on our journey in 2020 as we prepare to up the game in 2021. I am HUMAN because we all are HUMAN and we need to ensure that our actions contribute towards breaking the barriers the infringe on the HUMAN RIGHTS of others.