The inspirational journeys of people who are long-term survivors of HIV
Mgladzo
Mgladzo
Johannesburg, South Africa
Mgladzo is a long-term #HIV survivor in South Africa.
Some people said I was possessed by demons because I’m a lesbian. So I decided to grow my hair and get a boyfriend. I got a boyfriend and we slept together. That’s when I got HIV. I became pregnant at the same time. I was fifteen years old.
The child died at 4 months. I myself was still a kid. Later I decided to try having kids again. In 2004, I went back to the very same man. We slept together, and I gave birth a second time. As the father of my kids and I became closer, I disclosed my sexuality to him and he was supportive. Unfortunately, my kids’ daddy was HIV-positive. He died. And he loved his kids very much.
I was determined to have HIV-negative kids. So I went to the clinic and they informed me about prevention of mother-to-child transmission.
I followed every precaution. Now my two kids are healthy, they know my HIV status, and they know my sexuality.
In 2007, my colleague, an open lesbian, was murdered. They stabbed her, they shot her, and they took her underwear and put it on her head.
I was so confused and scared. I’m proud of myself, but going out and saying it loudly—“You know what, I’m a lesbian and I’m proud!”—is very difficult.
Stigma says that I’m not capable of labour as a person who is living with HIV. I was diagnosed with heart failure earlier this year. I have been in and out of the hospital. I'm still on treatment. They say I can manage it if I stop stressing. But I have been unemployed for 3 years.
It’s been so hard at my age. They hire from 18-35. My son will soon go to university. I hustle everyday for us to have food. The struggle is real. It’s harder when employers don’t consider you worthy. I’m thinking of getting funds to start a business.