5 - Address at the Funeral of a Young Woman

Summary

This is a transcript of a speech that Sindiwe Magona delivered at the funeral of a family friend in December 2002, shortly before her retirement and return to South Africa. In it, she lambasts all those who are to blame in one way or another for the unprecedented spread of HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), which led to South Africa becoming the epicentre of the world's Aids crisis. Her words made such an impact that attendees beseeched her to put the speech in writing. This piece offers one of the clearest examples of the activism that Magona incorporates into her writing.

MY FELLOW AFRICANS, these are bad times, indeed. Daily, sad hordes troop to cemeteries to bury our youth. Custom dictates we bury the dead. However, the acceleration of today's rate of HIV and Aids is alarming, and the age of those dying an abomination. Sadly, we are gathered here today for no different reason. I’m sure I echo what is in the heart of each one here when I say: I wish it were not so.

We have lost a young woman, the youngest of her mother's four girls and the mother of an eight-year-old little girl. Zanele was only thirty years old.

But first, let me begin by expressing my condolences to the bereaved: Dear friends, as the elders say, and have taught us to say: ‘Akuhlanga lungehliyo!’ We are all here to shed tears with you in grief, and hope our presence will soften the blow a little.

I would be remiss if I didn’t, on behalf of us all, thank this family for what it has done. They have come out publicly; declared their deceased daughter was HIV positive. We thank them for that act of rare and amazing courage; thank them for their leadership.

These days, our sad plight has made us strangers to truth. We have long forsaken truth and chosen the path of appearances and false respectability. As far as I know, this is the first such acknowledgment in Gugulethu. Despite so many of our young people dying daily in unprecedented numbers, we continue to inhabit the house of lies and denial. Yes, Lord, even as we continue to call ourselves Christians, we continue in our wicked lying ways. But this family has decided their loss shall be our gain. Let us be grateful for such bounteous mercy!