Nozipho Bhengu (1974 – 19 May 2006) was a South African woman whose death from an AIDS-related illness intensified the controversy about how AIDS is treated in South Africa. Nozipho was well known in South Africa for her openness about her illness as well as her refusal to take conventional medical treatment for AIDS in favour of alternative and controversial natural treatment. Diagnosed as HIV positive in 1998, Nozipho Bhengu underwent treatment using

antiretroviral drug The management of HIV/AIDS normally includes the use of multiple antiretroviral drugs as a strategy to control HIV infection. There are several classes of antiretroviral agents that act on different stages of the HIV life-cycle. The use of multi ...

s until 2001. At that point she was persuaded by health minister

Manto Tshabalala-Msimang Mantombazana "Manto" Edmie Tshabalala-Msimang (née Mali; 9 October 1940 – 16 December 2009) was a South African politician. She was Deputy Minister of Justice from 1996 to 1999 and served as Minister of Health from 1999 to 2008 under Preside ...

and nutritionalist

Tine van der Maas Tine van der Maas (born 15 March 1954) is an Argentine-born South African nutritionist and HIV/AIDS denialist. Her family is originally of Dutch origin before immigrating to South Africa. She started treating people with AIDS in 1989. Van de ...

that standard pharmaceutical drugs have dangerous side effects and it would be more beneficial to her condition to try a controversial lemon and garlic diet. The health minister was quoted in saying "I do not know of any side effects of eating proper food". Bhengu's mother, Ruth Bhengu, as an

African National Congress The African National Congress (ANC) is a social-democratic political party in South Africa. A liberation movement known for its opposition to apartheid, it has governed the country since 1994, when the first post-apartheid election install ...

legislator spoke of her daughter's beliefs in a speech in Parliament. After the speech Nozipho Bhengu's efforts to treat her illness became common knowledge in South Africa. Bhengu died on 19 May 2006. At the time of her death she was working on a book, ''From Victim to Victor'', which detailed her experience that was left unfinished. Upon her death the

Treatment Action Campaign The Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) is a South African HIV/AIDS activist organisation which was co-founded by the HIV-positive activist Zackie Achmat in 1998. TAC is rooted in the experiences, direct action tactics and anti-apartheid backgrou ...

praised her openness about her illness while at the same time calling her death "unnecessary". Manto Tshabalala-Msimang was invited to her funeral on 24 May. She sent a representative who was subsequently booed by some of the funeral's attendees.

References

The Economist ''The Economist'' is a British weekly newspaper printed in demitab format and published digitally. It focuses on current affairs, international business, politics, technology, and culture. Based in London, the newspaper is owned by The Eco ...

, 10 June 2006, p101
Bhengu family upset by 'insensitive' TAC
25 May 2006

24 May 2006 1974 births 2006 deaths South African women AIDS-related deaths in South Africa {{SouthAfrica-bio-stub