At a candle-lighting ceremony commemorating World AIDS Day, the Minister of Information, Communication, and Technology (ICT) Savannah Maziya shared a heartfelt message, reflecting on her personal connection to the HIV/AIDS crisis as the founder of an orphanage in South Africa.
The Minister highlighted the importance of breaking down stigma, supporting wellness, and providing compassionate care.
Before delivering her prepared remarks, Maziya paused to thank Sandile Mweli, Director of the Public Sector HIV/AIDS Coordinating Committee (PSHACC), for his commitment to workplace wellness and his advocacy for those affected by HIV.
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She then spoke about her own experience as an orphanage founder, where she cared for numerous children who lost their parents to HIV/AIDS.
“I understand the impact of HIV. I have an orphanage in South Africa, and I’ve had many children come to my orphanage because their parents have died,” she said.
“Even if you are able to care for them, when you’ve lost the primary person, it’s very difficult.”
Maziya touched on the emotional toll that HIV can have on families and children, emphasizing the importance of addressing the shame often associated with the disease.
“One of the most difficult problems that come about, which you seem to have been able to work on, is the shame it brings.
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I think if you can really help society to see it as a disease like any other, so people feel no shame in checking and keeping themselves informed, we can create a culture of care and prevent negative impacts on others’ lives.”
In her address, Maziya also stressed the importance of promoting wellness within the public sector, citing the increasing pressures that government officials and workers face.
“We all work under a lot of pressure, with personal stresses—financial, family, or otherwise,” she explained.
“As we ask people to be their best at work, we must also support their whole well-being, whether mental health or other areas of wellness, as no one knows the burdens others may carry.”
